Progress in Plasma Processing of Materials, 2003

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-192-1

ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-447-2

REMOVAL OF NITRIC OXIDE IN VEHICLE EXHAUST GAS BY MULTIPOINTS TO PLANE DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE: UNDERSTANDING OF THE REACTION PATHWAY BY ISOTOPIC LABELING

DOI: 10.1615/ITPPC-2002.800
pages 671-679

Abstract

An experimental study on the removal of NOX in a simulated exhaust gas has been carried out using pulse discharge reactors. This synthetic exhaust gas was a(N2/O2/CO2/H2/O/NO/C3H6) mixture. A multipoints to plane configuration have been used to investigate this study. Electrical characterization of the pulse discharge reactor (duration of pulse, intensity, charge, and energy density...) was controlled by a numerical oscilloscope. Hydrocarbons and NOX by-products were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. NO, NO2 and CO content were monitored by gas analyzers so as to evaluate the efficiency of the post-treatment. It was shown that steam could enhance NOX removal via the reaction forming HN02 and HN03.The (N2/O2/C3H6/CO2/NO/H2) system has been shown to generate a significant amount of alcohol and aldehyde. CH3NO2 and CH3ONO2 are the main R-NOX compounds produced. 18O tracer technique analysis was applied to understand the process of propylene decomposition. They also lighted the role of oxygen in the exhaust gas for oxidation processes and R-NOX formation. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that the exhaust C02 was as well transformed during the treatment, releasing CO and VOC.