Reaction Mechanism for the Removal of NOx by Wet Scrubbing Using Urea Solution: Determination of Main and Side Reaction Paths.

Secondary problems, such as the occurrence of side reactions and the accumulation of by-products, are a major challenge in the application of wet denitrification technology through urea solution. We revealed the formation mechanism of urea nitrate and clarified the main and side reaction paths and key intermediates of denitrification. Urea nitrate would be separated from urea absorption solution only when the concentration product of [urea], [H+] and [NO3-] was greater than 0.87~1.22 mol3/L3. The effects of the urea concentration (5-20%) and reaction temperature (30-70 °C) on the denitrification efficiency could be ignored. Improving the oxidation degree of the flue gas promoted the removal of nitrogen oxides. The alkaline condition was beneficial to the dissolution process, while the acidic condition was beneficial to the reaction process. As a whole, the alkaline condition was the preferred process parameter. The research results could guide the optimization of process conditions in theory, improve the operation efficiency of the denitrification reactor and avoid the occurrence of side reactions.

Heterogeneous Reactions between Toluene and NO2 on Mineral Particles under Simulated Atmospheric Conditions.

Heterogeneous reactions between organic and inorganic gases with aerosols are important for the study of smog occurrence and development. In this study, heterogeneous reactions between toluene and NO2 with three atmospheric mineral particles in the presence or absence of UV light were investigated. The three mineral particles were SiO2, α-Fe2O3, and BS (butlerite and szmolnokite). In a dark environment, benzaldehyde was produced on α-Fe2O3. For BS, nitrotoluene and benzaldehyde were obtained. No aromatic products were produced in the absence of NO2 in the system. In the presence of UV irradiation, benzaldehyde was detected on the SiO2 surface. Identical products were produced in the presence and absence of UV light over α-Fe2O3 and BS. UV light promoted nitrite to nitrate on mineral particles surface. On the basisi of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results, a portion of BS was reduced from Fe3+ to Fe2+ with the adsorption of toluene or the reaction with toluene and NO2. Sulfate may play a key role in the generation of nitrotoluene on BS particles. From this research, the heterogeneous reactions between organic and inorganic gases with aerosols that occur during smog events will be better understood.

Nitric oxide removal by wastewater bacteria in a biotrickling filter.

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important air pollutants in atmosphere mainly emitted from combustion source. A biotrickling filter was designed and operated to remove NO from an air stream using bacteria extracted from the sewage sludge of a municipal sewage treatment plant. To obtain the best operation conditions for the biotrickling filter, orthogonal experiments (L9(3(4))) were designed. Inlet oxygen concentration was found to be the most significant factor of the biotrickling filter and has a significant negative effect on the system. The optimal conditions of the biotrickling filter occurred at a temperature of 40°C, a pH of 8.0 and a chemical oxygen demand of 165 mg/L in the recycled water with no oxygen in the system. The bacteria sample was detected by DNA sequencing technology and showed 93%-98% similarity to Pseudomonas mendocina. Moreover, a full gene sequencing results indicated the bacterium was a brand new strain and named as P. mendocina DLHK. This strain can transfer nitrate to organic nitrogen. The result suggested the assimilation nitrogen process in this system. Through the isotope experimental analysis, two intermediate products ((15)NO and (15)N2O) were found. The results indicated the denitrification function and capability of the biotrickling filter in removing NO.

Genome sequence of Pseudomonas mendocina DLHK, isolated from a biotrickling reactor.

Pseudomonas mendocina DLHK is an aerobic bacterium isolated from a biotrickling reactor which can remove nitric oxide, a common air pollutant from combustion exhaust gas. Here, we present the draft genome of Pseudomonas mendocina DLHK.

A Novel Method for the Preparation of Poly (Acrylamide-co-Acrylonitrile) Upper Critical Solution Temperature Thermosensitive Hydrogel by the Partial Dehydration of Acrylamide Grafted Polypropylene Sheets.

In an attempt to find a potential application of cell culture harvesting, a novel method for the preparation of an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) thermosensitive hydrogel was studied. An electron accelerator was used as the electron beam (EB) radiation source, and acrylamide (AAm) was first grafted onto the pre-irradiated polypropylene (PP) sheet. Then, the grafting layer of poly (acrylamide-co-acrylonitrile) (P (AAm-co-AN)) was obtained by the partial dehydration of the acylamino group into the cyano group in the solution mixture of sulfoxide chloride (SOCl2) and dimethyl formamide (DMF). The effects of the absorbed dose, AAm concentration, reaction time, and temperature on the degree of grafting were studied, respectively. The effect of the SOCl2 concentration on the conversion degree of the cyano group from the acylamino group was studied, followed by the temperature of the UCST. The UCST properties of the grafted samples with P (AAm-co-AN) were studied by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. The cytotoxicities of the hydrogels against cells were verified by CCK-8 studies.

Simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification by microwave reactor with ammonium bicarbonate and zeolite.

Microwave reactor with ammonium bicarbonate (NH(4)HCO(3)) and zeolite was set up to study the simultaneous removal of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) from flue gas. The results showed that the microwave reactor filled with NH(4)HCO(3) and zeolite could reduce SO(2) to sulfur with the best desulfurization efficiency of 99.1% and reduce NO(x) to nitrogen with the best NO(x) purifying efficiency of 86.5%. Microwave desulfurization and denitrification effect of the experiment using ammonium bicarbonate and zeolite together is much higher than that using ammonium bicarbonate or zeolite only. NO(x) concentration has little effect on denitrification but has no influence on desulfurization, SO(2) concentration has no effect on denitrification. The optimal microwave power and empty bed residence time (EBRT) on simultaneous desulfurization and dentrification are 211-280 W and 0.315 s, respectively. The mechanism for microwave reduced desulfurization and denitrification can be described as the microwave-induced catalytic reduction reaction between SO(2), NO(x) and ammonium bicarbonate with zeolite being the catalyst and microwave absorbent.