Activation of flue gas nitrogen oxides by transition metal complexes

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5837897

Miller, M E; Finseth, D H; Pennline, H W

Sulfur and nitrogen oxides are major flue gas pollutants released by coal-fired electric power plants. In the atmosphere these oxides are converted to sulfuric and nitric acids, which contribute to the acid rain problem. Most of the nitrogen oxides present in coal-derived flue gas exist as the relatively inert and water-insoluble nitric oxide (NO), thus presenting a difficult removal problem. We present preliminary studies intended to establish basic homogeneous chemistry of transition metal complexes with nitrogen oxides. The transition metals considered in this work are volatile carbonyl complexes. The metal carbonyls took up nitric oxide homogeneously in the gas phase. Iron required uv light for reaction with NO, but the same result is expected with the application of heat. Metal carbonyls also reacted with nitrogen dioxide but produced polynuclear metal species. Oxygen did not attack the carbonyl or nitrosyl complexes. Results indicate high potential for NO/sub x/ removal from stack gases by sorption onto supported metal carbonyl complexes. The solid form allows ease in separation from the flue gas. Regeneration of the sorbent might be achieved by treating with CO to liberate NO/sub x/ by displacement or by heating to decompose and drive off NO/sub x/.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc., TN (USA); USDOE Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, PA
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76OR00033
• OSTI ID: 5837897
• Report Number(s): CONF-870802-27; ON: DE88001308
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200202 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management-- Noxious Gas & Particulate Emissions
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CARBONYLS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL
COMPLEXES
CONTROL
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUE GAS
FOSSIL FUELS
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MATERIALS
NITRIC ACID
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
POWER PLANTS
RAIN
REMOVAL
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STACKS
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFURIC ACID
SURFACE PROPERTIES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
WASTES