Absorption Kinetics of Nitrogen Oxides using Sodium Chlorite Solutions in Twin Spray Columns

NOX is a major pollutant that causes acid deposition and photochemical smog. A large amount of NOX is emitted from combustion sources such as power plants. As some articles have indicated, NOX removal with NaClO2 solution in an absorption column is an effective control approach. In this approach, first insoluble NO is oxidized into water-soluble NO2 under acidic conditions, then NO2 is removed in alkaline NaClO2 solutions. The results indicate that the reaction rate constant is 9.1×104 (L)4.4/cm6/s/mol2.4 in the first absorption column with acidic conditions, and the reaction orders with respect to NO and NaClO2 are 1.4 and 2, respectively. In the second absorption column with alkaline conditions, the reaction rate constant is 3.2×107 (L)5.2/cm6/s/mol3.2 and the reaction orders with respect to NO and NaClO2 are 1.6 and 2.5, respectively. The activation energies in the first and second absorption column are 71.8 and 139.6 kJ/mol, respectively.