Absorption of nitrogen monoxide in aqueous solutions containing sulfite and transition-metal chelates such as Fe (II)-EDTA, Fe (II)-NTA, Co (II)-Trien and Co (II)-Treten

Abstract

For wet denitrification processes nitrogen monoxide is the crucial component owing to its low water solubility. By addition of transition-metal complexes, able to form nitrosyls, the effective NO concentration in the liquid phase is enhanced. Kinetic (reaction orders and rate constants) as well as thermodynamic (stability constants) data for nitrosylation have been established. It has been found that Fe(II)-EDTA and Fe(II)-NTA react very fast to form stable NO complexes and are widely pH independent. The formation of Fe(III)-EDTA nitrosyl is found to be rapid, but the large deviation in the measured data prevents reliable evaluation. While the equilibrium constants of the Co(II)-trien and Co(II)-tetren nitrosyls are largely pH independent, the rate of formation is influenced markedly by pH. Each nitrosyl shows individual behavior towards sulfite. Fe(II)-EDTA and Fe(III)-EDTA exhibit the highest absorption capacities. The CO(II) polyamines convert the absorbed NO mainly to gaseous N 2O rather than to liquid-phase products.