Simultaneous removal of CO₂, NO_x and SO_x using single stage absorption column.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Atmospheric Chemistry

Background:

• Conventional flue gas treatment involves multi-stage scrubbing, leading to high capital and operational expenses.
• Limited research exists on simultaneously capturing nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a single absorption stage.
• Alkaline conditions are typically employed for efficient absorption of acidic flue gases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of a single-stage wet scrubbing unit for simultaneous absorption of CO2, NO, and SO2.
• To evaluate the performance of sodium carbonate solution, enhanced with oxidizers, for flue gas capture.
• To analyze the absorption kinetics and reaction pathways of the target gases under alkaline conditions.

Main Methods:

• A single wet scrubbing column was utilized for the absorption experiments.
• Sodium carbonate solution, promoted with oxidizers, was employed as the absorbent.
• Absorption characteristics and efficiencies for CO2, NO, and SO2 were measured.

Main Results:

• Achieved 100% absorption for CO2 and 95% for SO2.
• Demonstrated 30% absorption efficiency for NO.
• Addition of oxidizers increased CO2 capture efficiency by 40%.

Conclusions:

• A single-stage wet scrubbing system using sodium carbonate solution and oxidizers is effective for simultaneous capture of CO2, SO2, and NO.
• The method offers a potentially cost-effective alternative to multi-stage scrubbing processes.
• Further research into reaction kinetics and optimization is warranted for industrial application.