Reactions of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) Leading to the Formation of Nitric Acid (HNO3) in Non-Thermal Plasmas (NTPs): White Paper for the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Compliance Project CP-1038, "Development of Non-Thermal Plasma Reactor Technology for Control of Atmospheric Emissions"
Abstract
Electrical energy coupled into an NTP can be used to create highly reactive species, e.g., oxygen atoms O(3P), OH radicals, N-radicals, electrons, and other free radicals, ions, and active species in gaseous media at near-ambient temperatures and pressures. These active species subsequently react with entrained pollutants in the gas, converting them to non-hazardous compounds. Because NTP processing shows promise for simultaneously removing different types of pollutants (e.g., NOx/SOx and VOCs), it is particularly attractive for many present and future environmental applications. In a thermal process thousands of electron volts of energy are typically required to decompose one pollutant molecule, because it is a non-selective process. Compared to a thermal process, non-thermal plasmas typically require energies of order 10's - 100's eV per decomposed pollutant molecule, thus showing the benefits of selective chemistry. It has been decided that the primary targets for our work on NTP technology will be jet engine test cells (JETCs) and cruise missile test cells (CMTCs), which are stationary sources of air emissions. Therefore, we can exercise the option of converting the emitted NOx to HNO3 (or related acids) and scrub out the acid. In this white paper, we will show the primary paths of such conversions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 20, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA363164
Entities
People
- Andrzej W. Miziolek
- J. -s. Change
- John T. Herron
- Louis A. Rosocha
- Michael J. Nusca
Organizations
- Los Alamos National Laboratory