SO2 and NOx removal by electron beam and electrical discharge induced non-thermal plasmas

An installation containing a DC negative corona discharge reactor, a pulse corona discharge reactor and a combined electron beam and microwave induced plasma reactor is presented. SO2 is removed up to 42% through spontaneous reaction with ammonia without electron beam or microwave irradiation at the temperature below 70 degrees C. For the same removal efficiency of 98% for SO2 and 80% for NOx at separate EB irradiation of 40 kGy, the required absorbed dose is about two times smaller for simultaneous electron beam and microwave irradiation. The SO2 removal efficiency of simultaneous DC or positive discharge and microwave discharge is higher than separate DC, pulse and MW discharge. Also, the applied voltage level at which the removal efficiency reaches the maximum value is less than for the separate application of DC or pulse discharge. The NO, removal efficiency of DC or pulse discharge suffers little change by additional use of the microwave energy. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.