Electron beam flue gas treatment (EBFGT) technology for simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx from combustion of liquid fuels

Electron beam flue gas treatment technology was applied for removal of SO2 and NOx from flue gas, emitted from combustion of high-sulfur fuel oils. The detailed study of this process was performed in a laboratory by irradiating the exhaust gas from the combustion of three grades of Arabian fuels with an electron beam from accelerator (800 keV, max. beam power 20 kW). SO2 removal is mainly dependent on ammonia stoichiometry, flue gas temperature and humidity and irradiation doses up to 8 kGy. NOx removal depends primarily on irradiation dose. High removal efficiencies up to 98% for SO2 and up to 82% for NOx were obtained under optimal conditions. The flue gas emitted from combustion of high-sulfur fuel oils, after electron beam irradiation, meets the stringent emission standards for both pollutants. The by-product, which is a mixture of ammonium sulphate and nitrate, can be used as a fertilizer as such or blended with other components to produce commercial agricultural fertilizer.