Removal of SO2 and the Simultaneous Removal of SO2 and NO from Simulated Flue Gas Streams Using Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasmas

A gas-phase oxidation method using dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) has been developed to remove S02 and to simultaneously remove SO, and NO from gas streams that are similar to gas streams generated by the combustion of fossil fuels. SO, and NO removal efficiencies are evaluated as a function of applied voltage, temperature, and concentrations of S02, NO, t'l,O~s), and N H 3. With constant I-I,0~8 ) concentration, both S02 and N O removal efficiencies increase with increasing temperature from 100 to 160°C. At 160°C with 15% by volume HeOts), more than 95% of the N O and 32% of the S02 are simultaneously removed from the gas stream. Injection of N H 3 into the gas stream caused an increase in SO 2 removal efficiency to essentially 100%. These results indicate that D B D plasmas have the potential to simultaneously remove S02 and N O from gas streams generated by large-scale fossil fuel combustors.