Catalytic Abatement of Nitrous Oxide From Nitric Acid Production

摘要

Nitric acid production is identified as a main source of nitrous oxide. Options for emission reduction however are not available. TNO and Hydro Agri studied the technological and economic feasibility of catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide in nitric acid tail-gases. Although in literature promising candidate catalysts are described for nitrous oxide decomposition, inhibition of these catalysts by NO and H_2O is a serious problem that still has to be overcome. But, if a catalyst becomes available, catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide in nitric acid tail-gases will be a relative cheap option to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.