Polarity effect of pulsed corona discharge for the oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury.

The effect of polarity on the oxidation of Hg(0) was examined in the presence of O(2) via a pulsed corona discharge (PCD). The experimental result showed no difference in the energy yield of Hg(0) oxidation at both positive and negative PCDs (∼8 μg Hg Wh(-1) at following conditions: total flow rate=2 L min(-1) (Hg(0)=50 μg Nm(-3), O(2)=10%, and N(2) balance), temperature=150°C, and specific energy density=5-15 Wh Nm(-3)). This suggests that the positive PCD process used to control gaseous air pollutants may play an essential key role in Hg(0) oxidation because it consumes enough energy (∼15 Wh Nm(-3)) but an electrical precipitator could not because it consumes less energy (∼0.

Hydrogen recovery from the thermal plasma gasification of solid waste.

Thermal plasma gasification has been demonstrated as one of the most effective and environmentally friendly methods for solid waste treatment and energy utilization in many of studies. Therefore, the thermal plasma process of solid waste gasification (paper mill waste, 1.2 ton/day) was applied for the recovery of high purity H(2) (>99.

Radiography simulation on single-shot dual-spectrum X-ray for cargo inspection system.

We propose a method to identify materials in the dual energy X-ray (DeX) inspection system. This method identifies materials by combining information on the relative proportions T of high-energy and low-energy X-rays transmitted through the material, and the ratio R of the attenuation coefficient of the material when high-energy are used to that when low energy X-rays are used. In Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code (MCNPX) simulations using the same geometry as that of the real container inspection system, this T vs.

Design and characterization of 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance plasma source with magnetron magnetic field configuration for high flux of hyperthermal neutral beam.

A 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) source with a magnetron magnetic field configuration was developed to meet the demand of a hyperthermal neutral beam (HNB) flux on a substrate of more than 1x10(15) cm(-2) s(-1) for industrial applications. The parameters of the operating pressure, ion density, electron temperature, and distance between the neutralization plate and the substrate for the HNB source are specified in a theoretical analysis.

Demonstration of thermal plasma gasification/vitrification for municipal solid waste treatment.

Thermal plasma treatment has been regarded as a viable alternative for the treatment of highly toxic wastes, such as incinerator residues, radioactive wastes, and medical wastes. Therefore, a gasification/vitrification unit for the direct treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW), with a capacity of 10 tons/day, was developed using an integrated furnace equipped with two nontransferred thermal plasma torches. The overall process, as well as the analysis of byproducts and energy balance, has been presented in this paper to assess the performance of this technology.

Insight into the unique oxidation chemistry of elemental mercury by chlorine-containing species: experiment and simulation.

This work investigated the oxidation chemistry of elemental mercury (Hg(0)) by chlorine-containing species produced indirectly through the gas-to-solid phase reaction between NO(x) gases and NaClO(2) powder (NaClO(2)(s)), where both experiment and simulation results were compared to clarify which species are responsible for the oxidation of Hg(0). At first, we introduced 30 ppm of NO(2) into the pack-bed reactor containing NaClO(2)(s) to produce OClO species and then injected NO and Hg(0) (260 microg/Nm(3)) to Mixer, where the concentration of NO was varied up to 180 ppm and the reaction temperature was set to 130 degrees C. We observed for the first time that the degree of Hg(0) oxidation is completely controlled by the introduced concentration of NO: for example, the oxidation efficiency of Hg(0) is drastically increased to become 100% at near 7 ppm NO, but further increasing NO concentration results in the oxidation efficiency of Hg(0) being gradually decreased.

Reaction pathways of NO oxidation by sodium chlorite powder.

NO oxidation is an important prerequisite step to assist selective catalytic reduction at low temperatures (< 250 degrees C). If sodium chlorite powder (NaClO2(s)) can oxidize NO to NO2, the injection of NaClO2(s) can be simply adapted to NO oxidation. Therefore, we explored the reaction pathways of NO oxidation by NaClO2(s).

Effect of hydrogen generated by dielectric barrier discharge of NH3 on selective non-catalytic reduction process.

Plasma-assisted selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) has been investigated to clarify which species generated by the plasma play a crucial role in NO reduction. We find that the presence of O(2) is indispensable and only H(2) is observed to be a stable product by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of NH(3). As the extent of NH(3) decomposition by DBD increases, the commencement temperature of SNCR processes is lowered and the working temperature window is widened.

Oxidation of elemental mercury using atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma.

The oxidation of gas phase elemental mercury (Hg0) by atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma has been investigated at room temperature, employing both dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of the gas mixture of Hg0 and injection of ozone (O3) into the gas mixture of Hg0. Results have shown that the oxidative efficiencies of Hg0 by DBD and the injection of O3 are 59% and 93%, respectively, with energy consumption of 23.7 J L(-1).

Influence of HCl on oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury by dielectric barrier discharge process.

The influence of HCl on the oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) has been investigated using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma process, where the temperature of the plasma reactor and the composition of gas mixtures of HCl, H2O, NO, and O2 in N2 balance have been varied. We observe that Cl atoms and Cl2 molecules, created by the DBD process, play important roles in the oxidation of Hg0 to HgCl2. The addition of H2O to the gas mixture of HCl in N2 accelerates the oxidation of Hg0, although no appreciable effect of H2O alone on the oxidation of Hg0 has been observed.