Nitric oxide decomposition in air by using non-thermal plasma processing - with additives and catalyst

Abstract

NO removal process by using non-thermal plasma with catalyst (copper coated zeolite catalyst i.e. Cu-ZSM-5) was studied to enhance NO removal efficiency of the plasma chemical reactions. A hydrocarbon agent was added to the synthesized flue gas before the non-thermal plasma processing. Adding effects of hydrocarbon agent to the synthesized flue gas on the NO removal were also investigated. A rotating spark gap switch was used to generate positive square wave voltage (repetition rate was about 200 pps) which had very sharp rising time. Those experimental results suggested the enhancement of NO removal with catalyst and additives. Although conventional catalyst's working temperature is much higher than the room temperature (usually 400–500 °C) the catalyst which installed after the plasma reactor was active on NO removal, when the synthesized flue gas temperature was increased up to 250 °C. When the synthesized flue gas temperature was at the room temperature, about 90% NOx removal rate was realized where the process was combined with hydrocarbons, the catalytic reactor, and the discharge plasma.