ACTIVATED CARBONS FOR THE REMOVAL OF NITRIC-OXIDE

A potentially new application for activated carbons is the low-temperature (<250-degrees-C) treatment of flue gases from stationary sources for NO(x) reduction. This study focuses on identifying the physical and chemical properties of activated carbons which relate to the selective catalytic reduction of NO while using NH3 as a reductant. The chemical properties of activated carbons, such as surface oxides and mineral matter, appear to play a more important role in NO reduction than their physical properties, such as BET surface area and pore structure. Less basic, or more acidic, activated carbons with a high concentration of surface oxides and lower mineral matter contents are found to be better catalysts for NO reduction. The presence of sulfur in the activated carbon does not seem to affect the activity. Activated carbon is also found to be very selective for NO reduction in the presence of NH3.