EP1032754A2 - NOx REMOVAL APPARATUS INCLUDING MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND COPPER OXIDE SUPPORT - Google Patents
NOx REMOVAL APPARATUS INCLUDING MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND COPPER OXIDE SUPPORTInfo
- Publication number
- EP1032754A2 EP1032754A2 EP98962815A EP98962815A EP1032754A2 EP 1032754 A2 EP1032754 A2 EP 1032754A2 EP 98962815 A EP98962815 A EP 98962815A EP 98962815 A EP98962815 A EP 98962815A EP 1032754 A2 EP1032754 A2 EP 1032754A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- support
- alkali material
- weight percent
- adsorbent
- potassium carbonate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- NUJOXMJBOLGQSY-UHFFFAOYSA-N manganese dioxide Chemical compound O=[Mn]=O NUJOXMJBOLGQSY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 33
- QPLDLSVMHZLSFG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper oxide Chemical compound [Cu]=O QPLDLSVMHZLSFG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 16
- 239000005751 Copper oxide Substances 0.000 title claims description 12
- 229910000431 copper oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 12
- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 54
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 51
- BWHMMNNQKKPAPP-UHFFFAOYSA-L potassium carbonate Chemical compound [K+].[K+].[O-]C([O-])=O BWHMMNNQKKPAPP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims abstract description 46
- 239000003463 adsorbent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 49
- 229910000027 potassium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 25
- AMWRITDGCCNYAT-UHFFFAOYSA-L hydroxy(oxo)manganese;manganese Chemical compound [Mn].O[Mn]=O.O[Mn]=O AMWRITDGCCNYAT-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- WGLPBDUCMAPZCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Trioxochromium Chemical compound O=[Cr](=O)=O WGLPBDUCMAPZCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000423 chromium oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910002089 NOx Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 38
- MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitric oxide Chemical compound O=[N] MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 20
- MGWGWNFMUOTEHG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-amine Chemical compound CC1=CC(C)=CC(C=2N=C(N)SC=2)=C1 MGWGWNFMUOTEHG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 11
- JCXJVPUVTGWSNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen dioxide Inorganic materials O=[N]=O JCXJVPUVTGWSNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 11
- KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M Potassium hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[K+] KWYUFKZDYYNOTN-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 27
- PUFKGWVZPFANLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N dioxomanganese oxocopper Chemical compound O=[Cu].O=[Mn]=O PUFKGWVZPFANLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 4
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000011068 loading method Methods 0.000 description 3
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical class [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Manganese Chemical class [Mn] PWHULOQIROXLJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- IOVCWXUNBOPUCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M Nitrite anion Chemical compound [O-]N=O IOVCWXUNBOPUCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zirconium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Zr]=O MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium oxide Inorganic materials [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000003197 catalytic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 150000001844 chromium Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 238000005470 impregnation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052748 manganese Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011572 manganese Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Carbonate Chemical compound [O-]C([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 1
- WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium Chemical compound [Li] WHXSMMKQMYFTQS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910002651 NO3 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitrate Chemical compound [O-][N+]([O-])=O NHNBFGGVMKEFGY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitric acid Chemical compound O[N+]([O-])=O GRYLNZFGIOXLOG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052792 caesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N caesium atom Chemical compound [Cs] TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000001354 calcination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004649 carbonic acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003245 coal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-M hydroxide Chemical compound [OH-] XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 229910052744 lithium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910017604 nitric acid Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N nitrogen group Chemical group [N] QJGQUHMNIGDVPM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008929 regeneration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011069 regeneration method Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 rhubidium (Rb) Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000377 silicon dioxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
- B01D2253/10—Inorganic adsorbents
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
- B01D2253/10—Inorganic adsorbents
- B01D2253/112—Metals or metal compounds not provided for in B01D2253/104 or B01D2253/106
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
- B01D2253/30—Physical properties of adsorbents
- B01D2253/302—Dimensions
- B01D2253/306—Surface area, e.g. BET-specific surface
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
- B01D2257/40—Nitrogen compounds
- B01D2257/404—Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
Definitions
- the present invention relates to NOx removal. More specifically, the invention relates to an adsorbent for removing nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) from a gas such as air.
- NO nitric oxide
- NO 2 nitrogen dioxide
- U.S. Patent No. 5,362,463 discloses a NOx adsorbent including a support made of a mixture of manganese oxide and aluminum oxide. Between 20 percent and 80 percent manganese oxide is used, with the remainder being aluminum oxide. The adsorbent further includes an alkali material such as potassium carbonate. The '463 patent discloses that potassium is used in amounts ranging between five and fifty percent. As air flows over the adsorbent, NOx is removed.
- NOx removal is performed at high air temperatures.
- the air temperature exceeds 200°C.
- the apparatus includes a support made of a mixture including manganese dioxide and copper oxide; and an alkali material combined with the support.
- the support and the alkali material are combined for NOx removal.
- the apparatus can remove NOx from a gas such as air at temperatures below 100°C.
- the apparatus has a high NOx removal capacity, and it is durable to air and thermal exposure.
- the support may be impregnated with the alkali material, the support and the alkali material may be formed as separate particles that are mixed together, or the support and the alkali material may be formed as separate particles that are placed in separate vessels.
- Figure 1 is an illustration of a NOx removal system according to the present invention
- Figure 2 is an illustration of a method of forming an adsorbent for the NOx removal system according to the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is an illustration of an alternative NOx removal system according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1 shows a NOx removal system 10 including a vessel 12 containing an adsorbent 14.
- the vessel 12 is contained within an enclosure 16.
- an incoming stream 18 of gas such as air is flowed over the adsorbent 14.
- the adsorbent 14 reduces the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in the gas.
- Leaving the vessel 12 is a stream 20 of gas having reduced levels of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
- the adsorbent 14 can remove the NOx in gas having a temperature above
- the adsorbent 14 can also remove NOx in gas having a temperature below 100°C.
- the adsorbent 14 can even remove NOx in a gas having a temperature of 35°C or perhaps lower than 20°C.
- the adsorbent 14 can remove NOx at low temperatures.
- the incoming gas 18 may be heated or cooled to a temperature at which NOx removal occurs (the "operating" temperature). If, however, the gas is already at a desirable operating temperature, then a separate heater or cooler is not used.
- the enclosure 16 is a vehicle including a combustion engine, and it is desired to remove NOx in exhaust gas from the combustion engine. The exhaust gas from the combustion engine is already heated. Thus, the exhaust gas from the combustion engine could be flowed directly over the adsorbent 14.
- the adsorbent 14 includes two components: an alkali material, and a support for the alkali material.
- the support is a mixture including manganese dioxide (Mn0 2 ) and copper oxide (CuO). At least about sixty weight percent (60 wt%) manganese dioxide is included in the mixture, and at least about ten weight percent (10 wt%) copper oxide is included in the mixture.
- the support may be made of commercially available mixtures such as "CARULITE 200" (available from Ca s Chemical Co. located in Peru, Illinois) and "HOPCALITE” (available from Strem Chemicals located in Newburyport, Massachusetts).
- the "CARULITE 200" mixture includes about sixty to seventy five weight percent manganese dioxide (60 wt% to 75 wt% MnO 2 ), about eleven to fourteen weight percent copper oxide (11 wt% to 14 wt% CuO), and about fifteen to sixteen weight percent aluminum oxide (15 wt% to 16 wt% AI 2 O 3 ).
- the "HOPCALITE” mixture includes at least seventy weight percent manganese dioxide (70 wt% MnO 2 ) and at least ten percent copper oxide (10 wt% CuO). No aluminum oxide is believed to be present. In addition to supporting the alkali material, the support performs a function of oxidizing the nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide.
- the support mixture may be formed as particles that are porous.
- the porous support particles may have a high internal surface area of at least 150 meters 2 /gram.
- the geometry of the support particles may be pellets, granules, cylinders, spheres, extrudates, powders, etc.
- the support particles may have a size as large as five (5) millimeters, it has been found that smaller particles exhibit better gas diffusion and removal efficiency than larger particles.
- the alkali material may be potassium carbonate (K 2 C0 3 ). The alkali material removes the nitrogen dioxide by a chemical reaction, which generates nitrate and/or nitrite on the adsorbent's exposed surface.
- the adsorbent 14 includes about three to forty weight percent potassium carbonate (3 wt% to 40 wt% K 2 C0 3 ), with the remainder being the support.
- the alkali material may instead be potassium hydroxide (KOH) or another alkali or alkaline-earth carbonate or hydroxide.
- KOH potassium hydroxide
- carbonates of calcium (Ca), lithium (Li), sodium (Na), rhubidium (Rb), or cesium (Cs) may be used.
- adsorbents 14 including "CARULITE 200" particles and “HOPCALITE” particles, and it has been found that both adsorbents work well on air having temperatures between 21 °C and 450°C. Efficiency of the NOx removal increases as the temperature is increased. This temperature dependence is more pronounced with the nitric oxide than with the nitrogen dioxide.
- Optimal loading of the potassium carbonate has been found to vary in proportion to the operating temperature of the gas. For an operating temperature of 50°C, an optimal loading of potassium carbonate has been found to be in the range of three weight percent to twelve weight percent (3 wt% to 12 wt% K 2 C0 3 ), and preferably ten weight percent (10 wt%). For an operating temperature of 250°C, an optimal loading of potassium carbonate has been found to be between twenty weight percent and forty weight percent (20 wt% and 40 wt% K 2 CO 3 ), and preferably thirty weight percent (30 wt%). For temperatures between 50°C and 250°C, the weight percent of the potassium carbonate could be interpolated.
- the alkali material may be combined with the support in different ways.
- inert support particles could be coated with the alkali material, and the coated inert particles could be uniformly dispersed in the vessel 12 with the support particles (e.g., the "CARULITE 200" particles or "HOPCALITE” particles).
- the inert particles for the alkali material could be high surface area alumina particles as well as particles such as silica, titania and zirconia.
- the inert particles also have a high internal surface area for dispersion of the alkali material. The surface area may be above about 10 meters 2 /gram.
- the support and alkali may be layered within the vessel 12.
- the support particles may be placed in front of inert particles that are coated with alkali material.
- FIG 2 illustrates yet another way in which the support and alkali material may be combined.
- the support particles e.g., the "CARULITE 200" particles or “HOPCALITE” particles
- the support particles may instead be coated or impregnated with the alkali material.
- the support particles may be procured from a commercial manufacturer or produced by mixing together the manganese dioxide and copper oxide (block 100).
- the support particles may be produced by starting with a mixture of water soluble salts of manganese and copper, followed by precipitation and calcining.
- An additional material such as chromium oxide may optionally be added to the support mixture (block 102).
- the chromium oxide may be added, for example, by impregnating the support mixture with water soluble chromium salt, or mixing the water soluble chromium salt with the water soluble salts of manganese and copper.
- the support particles may then be impregnated with the alkali material by forming an aqueous solution of the alkali material (block 104), impregnating the support particles with the aqueous solution (block 106), and drying the impregnated support particles (block 108). Impregnating the support particles with the aqueous solution allows direct physical contact between the support particles and the alkali, material because the alkali material is deposited on the support particles.
- the impregnated support particles may also be heat treated at a temperature above the expected operating temperature of the gas (block 110). If, however, the impregnated particles are dried at a temperature above the expected operating temperature of the air, the heat treatment step (block 110) may be skipped.
- Such an absorbent may be formed, for example, by combining 10 wt% potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ) with "CARULITE 200" particles. These two components are combined by impregnating 100 grams of commercially available "CARULITE 200" particles with 70 mL of an aqueous solution of K 2 CO 3 containing 11 grams of K 2 CO 3 . The impregnated support particles are then dried in a rotary impregnator at a temperature of 100°C. Both the "CARULITE 200" particles (prior to impregnation) and the dried particles (after impregnation) are sieved to 20-35 Tyler mesh.
- FIG. 3 shows yet another way in which the support and alkali material may be combined.
- a first vessel 200 containing the support 202 e.g., "CARULITE 200" particles
- a second vessel 204 containing the alkali material on inert particles 206 During NOx removal, a stream 208 of gas is passed over the support 202 in the first vessel 200.
- a gas stream 210 leaving the first vessel 200 bed is then passed over the alkali material in the second vessel 204.
- a gas stream 212 leaving the second vessel 204 has reduced levels of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
- Still another way of combining the support and alkali would be to place the support 202 in the first vessel 200 and the alkali-coated support 14 in the second vessel 204.
- an adsorbent that can remove NOx in a gas having a temperature below 100°C.
- the adsorbent can reduce the problems associated with raising the temperature of the gas prior to NOx removal.
- the adsorbent might allow a heater to be eliminated.
- the adsorbent might be placed in a more convenient location inside the enclosure. For example, if the gas stream temperature varies at different locations within the enclosure, the invention will afford greater flexibility in placing the adsorbent along the gas stream, especially if the gas stream temperature is below 100°C at certain locations.
- the adsorbent has been found to exhibit high air exposure and thermal durability. Resulting is an adsorbent having a long lifetime.
- the adsorbent is also believed to have a higher NOx adsorption capacity.
- the higher adsorption capacity allows the adsorbent to be used for longer periods before the adsorbent becomes saturated. After the adsorbent becomes saturated, it could be discarded. In the alternative, the adsorbent could be regenerated. Still, the longer lifetime of the adsorbent would reduce the frequency of regeneration.
- the invention may be used, without limitation, for the removal of NOx from breathable air; the removal of NOx from combustion engine exhaust; the removal of NOx from gas streams generated by coal and residual oil burning furnaces; the removal of NOx from catalytic oxidizers and non-catalytic thermal oxidizers that process nitrogen-containing organic molecules such as amines; the removal of NOx from nitric acid production plants; and the removal of NOx from nitrite production plants.
- oxygen should be present.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Solid-Sorbent Or Filter-Aiding Compositions (AREA)
- Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are removed from air by an adsorbent including a combination of a support and an alkali material. The support is a mixture including manganese dioxide (MnO2) and copper oxide (CuO). The alkali material may be, for example, potassium carbonate (K2CO3) or potassium hydroxide (KOH). The adsorbent allows efficient NOx removal occurs at temperatures below 100 °C.
Description
NOx REMOVAL APPARATUS INCLUDNG MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND
COPPER OXIDE SUPPORT
This application claims the benefit of provisional application no. 60/066,146 filed on November 19, 1997.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to NOx removal. More specifically, the invention relates to an adsorbent for removing nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from a gas such as air.
NOx removals systems are commonly used in applications ranging from air filtration to auto emission control. U.S. Patent No. 5,362,463 discloses a NOx adsorbent including a support made of a mixture of manganese oxide and aluminum oxide. Between 20 percent and 80 percent manganese oxide is used, with the remainder being aluminum oxide. The adsorbent further includes an alkali material such as potassium carbonate. The '463 patent discloses that potassium is used in amounts ranging between five and fifty percent. As air flows over the adsorbent, NOx is removed.
NOx removal is performed at high air temperatures. The air temperature exceeds 200°C. According to the '463 patent, there are temperature limitations on the removal of the NOx at air temperatures below 100°C.
It would be desirable to removal NOx at temperatures below 100°C.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
NOx is removed at lower temperatures by an apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus includes a support made of a mixture including manganese dioxide and copper oxide; and an alkali material combined with the support. The support and the alkali material are combined for NOx removal. The apparatus can remove NOx from a gas such as air at temperatures below 100°C. The apparatus has a high NOx removal capacity, and it is durable to air and thermal exposure.
According to different aspects of the invention, the support may be impregnated with the alkali material, the support and the alkali material may be formed as separate particles that are mixed together, or the support and the alkali material may be formed as separate particles that are placed in separate vessels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an illustration of a NOx removal system according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an illustration of a method of forming an adsorbent for the NOx removal system according to the present invention; and
Figure 3 is an illustration of an alternative NOx removal system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Figure 1 shows a NOx removal system 10 including a vessel 12 containing an adsorbent 14. The vessel 12 is contained within an enclosure 16. During NOx removal, an incoming stream 18 of gas such as air is flowed over the adsorbent 14. The adsorbent 14 reduces the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the gas. Leaving the vessel 12 is a stream 20 of gas having reduced levels of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
The adsorbent 14 can remove the NOx in gas having a temperature above
100°C. However, the adsorbent 14 can also remove NOx in gas having a temperature below 100°C. The adsorbent 14 can even remove NOx in a gas having a temperature of 35°C or perhaps lower than 20°C. Thus, the adsorbent 14 can remove NOx at low temperatures.
The incoming gas 18 may be heated or cooled to a temperature at which NOx removal occurs (the "operating" temperature). If, however, the gas is already at a desirable operating temperature, then a separate heater or cooler is not used. For example, the enclosure 16 is a vehicle including a combustion engine, and it is desired
to remove NOx in exhaust gas from the combustion engine. The exhaust gas from the combustion engine is already heated. Thus, the exhaust gas from the combustion engine could be flowed directly over the adsorbent 14.
The adsorbent 14 includes two components: an alkali material, and a support for the alkali material. The support is a mixture including manganese dioxide (Mn02) and copper oxide (CuO). At least about sixty weight percent (60 wt%) manganese dioxide is included in the mixture, and at least about ten weight percent (10 wt%) copper oxide is included in the mixture. The support may be made of commercially available mixtures such as "CARULITE 200" (available from Ca s Chemical Co. located in Peru, Illinois) and "HOPCALITE" (available from Strem Chemicals located in Newburyport, Massachusetts). The "CARULITE 200" mixture includes about sixty to seventy five weight percent manganese dioxide (60 wt% to 75 wt% MnO2), about eleven to fourteen weight percent copper oxide (11 wt% to 14 wt% CuO), and about fifteen to sixteen weight percent aluminum oxide (15 wt% to 16 wt% AI2O3). The "HOPCALITE" mixture includes at least seventy weight percent manganese dioxide (70 wt% MnO2) and at least ten percent copper oxide (10 wt% CuO). No aluminum oxide is believed to be present. In addition to supporting the alkali material, the support performs a function of oxidizing the nitric oxide into nitrogen dioxide.
The support mixture may be formed as particles that are porous. The porous support particles may have a high internal surface area of at least 150 meters2/gram. The geometry of the support particles may be pellets, granules, cylinders, spheres, extrudates, powders, etc. The support particles may have a size as large as five (5) millimeters, it has been found that smaller particles exhibit better gas diffusion and removal efficiency than larger particles. The alkali material may be potassium carbonate (K2C03). The alkali material removes the nitrogen dioxide by a chemical reaction, which generates nitrate and/or nitrite on the adsorbent's exposed surface. The adsorbent 14 includes about three to forty weight percent potassium carbonate (3 wt% to 40 wt% K2C03), with the remainder being the support.
The alkali material may instead be potassium hydroxide (KOH) or another alkali or alkaline-earth carbonate or hydroxide. For example, carbonates of calcium (Ca), lithium (Li), sodium (Na), rhubidium (Rb), or cesium (Cs) may be used.
Separate tests have been conducted on adsorbents 14 including "CARULITE 200" particles and "HOPCALITE" particles, and it has been found that both adsorbents work well on air having temperatures between 21 °C and 450°C. Efficiency of the NOx removal increases as the temperature is increased. This temperature dependence is more pronounced with the nitric oxide than with the nitrogen dioxide.
Optimal loading of the potassium carbonate has been found to vary in proportion to the operating temperature of the gas. For an operating temperature of 50°C, an optimal loading of potassium carbonate has been found to be in the range of three weight percent to twelve weight percent (3 wt% to 12 wt% K2C03), and preferably ten weight percent (10 wt%). For an operating temperature of 250°C, an optimal loading of potassium carbonate has been found to be between twenty weight percent and forty weight percent (20 wt% and 40 wt% K2CO3), and preferably thirty weight percent (30 wt%). For temperatures between 50°C and 250°C, the weight percent of the potassium carbonate could be interpolated.
The alkali material may be combined with the support in different ways. For example, inert support particles could be coated with the alkali material, and the coated inert particles could be uniformly dispersed in the vessel 12 with the support particles (e.g., the "CARULITE 200" particles or "HOPCALITE" particles). The inert particles for the alkali material could be high surface area alumina particles as well as particles such as silica, titania and zirconia. The inert particles also have a high internal surface area for dispersion of the alkali material. The surface area may be above about 10 meters2/gram.
In the alternative, the support and alkali may be layered within the vessel 12. For example, the support particles may be placed in front of inert particles that are coated with alkali material.
Figure 2 illustrates yet another way in which the support and alkali material may be combined. The support particles (e.g., the "CARULITE 200" particles or "HOPCALITE" particles) may instead be coated or impregnated with the alkali material.
The support particles may be procured from a commercial manufacturer or produced by mixing together the manganese dioxide and copper oxide (block 100). The support particles may be produced by starting with a mixture of water soluble salts of manganese and copper, followed by precipitation and calcining. An additional material such as chromium oxide may optionally be added to the support mixture (block 102). The chromium oxide may be added, for example, by impregnating the support mixture with water soluble chromium salt, or mixing the water soluble chromium salt with the water soluble salts of manganese and copper.
The support particles may then be impregnated with the alkali material by forming an aqueous solution of the alkali material (block 104), impregnating the support particles with the aqueous solution (block 106), and drying the impregnated support particles (block 108). Impregnating the support particles with the aqueous solution allows direct physical contact between the support particles and the alkali, material because the alkali material is deposited on the support particles. After being dried, the impregnated support particles may also be heat treated at a temperature above the expected operating temperature of the gas (block 110). If, however, the impregnated particles are dried at a temperature above the expected operating temperature of the air, the heat treatment step (block 110) may be skipped.
Such an absorbent may be formed, for example, by combining 10 wt% potassium carbonate (K2CO3) with "CARULITE 200" particles. These two components are combined by impregnating 100 grams of commercially available "CARULITE 200" particles with 70 mL of an aqueous solution of K2CO3 containing 11 grams of K2CO3. The impregnated support particles are then dried in a rotary impregnator at a temperature of 100°C. Both the "CARULITE 200" particles (prior to impregnation) and the dried particles (after impregnation) are sieved to 20-35 Tyler mesh.
Figure 3 shows yet another way in which the support and alkali material may be combined. A first vessel 200 containing the support 202 (e.g., "CARULITE 200" particles) is followed by a second vessel 204 containing the alkali material on inert particles 206. During NOx removal, a stream 208 of gas is passed over the support 202 in the first vessel 200. A gas stream 210 leaving the first vessel 200 bed is then passed
over the alkali material in the second vessel 204. A gas stream 212 leaving the second vessel 204 has reduced levels of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Still another way of combining the support and alkali would be to place the support 202 in the first vessel 200 and the alkali-coated support 14 in the second vessel 204.
Thus disclosed is an adsorbent that can remove NOx in a gas having a temperature below 100°C. The adsorbent can reduce the problems associated with raising the temperature of the gas prior to NOx removal. In certain instances, the adsorbent might allow a heater to be eliminated. In other instances, the adsorbent might be placed in a more convenient location inside the enclosure. For example, if the gas stream temperature varies at different locations within the enclosure, the invention will afford greater flexibility in placing the adsorbent along the gas stream, especially if the gas stream temperature is below 100°C at certain locations.
The adsorbent has been found to exhibit high air exposure and thermal durability. Resulting is an adsorbent having a long lifetime.
The adsorbent is also believed to have a higher NOx adsorption capacity. The higher adsorption capacity allows the adsorbent to be used for longer periods before the adsorbent becomes saturated. After the adsorbent becomes saturated, it could be discarded. In the alternative, the adsorbent could be regenerated. Still, the longer lifetime of the adsorbent would reduce the frequency of regeneration.
The invention may be used, without limitation, for the removal of NOx from breathable air; the removal of NOx from combustion engine exhaust; the removal of NOx from gas streams generated by coal and residual oil burning furnaces; the removal of NOx from catalytic oxidizers and non-catalytic thermal oxidizers that process nitrogen-containing organic molecules such as amines; the removal of NOx from nitric acid production plants; and the removal of NOx from nitrite production plants. During the NOx removal, oxygen should be present.
Design considerations such as adsorbent size, gas flow rate, and desired NOx levels in the effluent gas will depend upon the application for which the NOx removal system is intended.
The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Instead, the present invention is construed according to the claims that follow.
Claims
1. NOx removal apparatus comprising: a support made of a mixture including manganese dioxide and copper oxide; and an alkali material combined with the support; the support and the alkali material being combined for NOx removal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support includes at least about sixty weight percent manganese dioxide and at least about ten weight percent copper oxide.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alkali material is potassium carbonate, the potassium carbonate being between about 3 weight percent and 40 weight percent of the combined support and alkali material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alkali material is potassium carbonate, the potassium carbonate being between about 3 weight percent and 12 weight percent of the combined support and alkali material.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the alkali material is potassium carbonate, the potassium carbonate being between about 20 weight percent and 40 weight percent of the combined support and alkali material.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support particles have an internal surface area of at least 150 meters2/gram.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support is impregnated with the alkali material.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first group of particles is made of the support, and wherein the alkali material is on a second group of particles, and wherein the first and second groups of particles are mixed together.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first vessel contains the support, wherein a second vessel contains the alkali material, and wherein air is flowed over the support and then the alkali material during NOx removal.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure for providing a gas to the support and alkali material, the gas having a temperature below 100┬░C during NOx removal.
11. An adsorbent for removing NOx from a gas, the adsorbent comprising: support particles made of a mixture including manganese dioxide and copper oxide; and an alkali material; the support particles being impregnated with the alkali material.
12. The adsorbent of claim 11 , wherein the support includes at least about sixty weight percent manganese oxide and at least about ten weight percent copper oxide.
13. The adsorbent of claim 11 , wherein the mixture further includes chromium oxide.
14. The adsorbent of claim 11, wherein the alkali material is potassium carbonate, the potassium carbonate being between about 3 weight percent and 40 weight percent of the adsorbent.
15. The adsorbent of claim 11 , wherein the alkali material is potassium carbonate, the potassium carbonate being between about 3 weight percent and 12 weight percent of the adsorbent.
16. The adsorbent of claim 11 , wherein the alkali material is potassium carbonate, the potassium carbonate being between about 20 weight percent and 40 weight percent of the adsorbent.
17. The adsorbent of claim 11 , wherein the support particles have an internal surface area of at least 150 meters2/gram.
18. A method of removing NOx from a gas having a temperature below 100┬░C, the method comprising the steps of: exposing the gas to porous particles made of a mixture including manganese dioxide and copper oxide; and exposing the gas to an alkali material.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gas is exposed to the alkali material in a common vessel.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the gas is exposed first to the mixture and then to the alkali material, the mixture and the alkali material being contained in separate vessels.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US6614697P | 1997-11-19 | 1997-11-19 | |
PCT/US1998/024695 WO1999025961A2 (en) | 1997-11-19 | 1998-11-04 | NOx REMOVAL APPARATUS INCLUDING MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND COPPER OXIDE SUPPORT |
US66146 | 2002-02-01 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1032754A2 true EP1032754A2 (en) | 2000-09-06 |
Family
ID=22067536
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP98962815A Withdrawn EP1032754A2 (en) | 1997-11-19 | 1998-11-04 | NOx REMOVAL APPARATUS INCLUDING MANGANESE DIOXIDE AND COPPER OXIDE SUPPORT |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1032754A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2001523558A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999025961A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6855297B2 (en) * | 1998-11-16 | 2005-02-15 | Honeywell International Inc. | NOx filter |
US7132086B2 (en) * | 2001-07-18 | 2006-11-07 | Honeywell International, Inc. | Environmental control system including vapor cycle system and isothermal CATOX/PTF |
JP5345441B2 (en) * | 2009-04-09 | 2013-11-20 | 日本パイオニクス株式会社 | Method and apparatus for treating gas containing nitrogen oxides |
WO2024151849A1 (en) * | 2023-01-13 | 2024-07-18 | Entegris, Inc. | Adsorbent that contains potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate, and related methods and devices |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3203064A1 (en) * | 1982-01-30 | 1983-08-04 | Hölter, Heinz, Dipl.-Ing., 4390 Gladbeck | Chemisorption layer arrangement in safety cabins |
US5362463A (en) * | 1992-08-26 | 1994-11-08 | University Of De | Process for removing NOx from combustion zone gases by adsorption |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH04176335A (en) * | 1990-11-08 | 1992-06-24 | Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd | Adsorption remover for nitrogen oxide and its manufacture |
JP3340510B2 (en) * | 1993-05-19 | 2002-11-05 | 日本パイオニクス株式会社 | Hazardous gas purification method |
JPH07743A (en) * | 1993-06-10 | 1995-01-06 | Takuma Sogo Kenkyusho:Kk | Adsorbent and removing method for nitrogen oxide using adsorbent |
TW412438B (en) * | 1995-01-20 | 2000-11-21 | Hitachi Shipbuilding Eng Co | Nox adsorbent |
-
1998
- 1998-11-04 WO PCT/US1998/024695 patent/WO1999025961A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-11-04 EP EP98962815A patent/EP1032754A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-11-04 JP JP2000521306A patent/JP2001523558A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3203064A1 (en) * | 1982-01-30 | 1983-08-04 | Hölter, Heinz, Dipl.-Ing., 4390 Gladbeck | Chemisorption layer arrangement in safety cabins |
US5362463A (en) * | 1992-08-26 | 1994-11-08 | University Of De | Process for removing NOx from combustion zone gases by adsorption |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1999025961A2 (en) | 1999-05-27 |
WO1999025961A3 (en) | 1999-08-12 |
JP2001523558A (en) | 2001-11-27 |
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