Reactive absorption of NOx using discharge plasma

Laboratory experiments on NO_x removal were carried out using a plasma chemical process. In order to improve the NO_x removal efficiency, several different wet-type plasma reactors were designed and tested using simulated gas. A dry-type reactor was also tested. Basically the reactors consist of a discharge electrode and a glass insulating tube surrounded by a ground electrode. The injection of ammonia and water vapor together enhanced the DeNO_x performance of the dry-reactor. The wet-type reactors performed better compared with the dry reactor. In the wet-type reactors, the DeNO_x performances using water, ammonia solution and NaOH solution as the absorbent, were about the same. When water was used, the DeNO_x performance of the wet-type reactors stayed constant, even when the pH value of the water dropped to less than 3. The experimental results suggested that about half of the NO removed by the plasma process dissociated to N₂ and O₂ and that the other half became NO₂ and was absorbed in water