Simultaneous absorption of SO2 and NO from flue gas using ultrasound/Fe2+/heat coactivated persulfate system

Mechanical insights into desulfurization by peroxymonosulfate oxidation via a non-reactive oxygen species pathway

Air pollution by sulfur dioxide (SO2) remains a pressing concern for both the environment and human health. Desulfurization enhanced by persulfate based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs) has been proven to be a feasible method. However, the inherent contradiction between the rapid diffusion mass transfer of SO2 in the "gas-liquid-gas" phase and the limited lifespan of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can not be ignored. Excessive investment in PS is required to sustainably generate ROS to achieve continuous desulfurization performance, which may lead to excessive PS consumption. To address this issue, whether PS can achieve the oxidation absorption of SO2 via a non-reactive oxygen species pathway was investigated. Experimental and computational results demonstrated that peroxymonosulfate (PMS) instead of peroxydisulfate (PDS) had a great SO2 removal performance, the utilization of PS could be effectively achieved by maintaining a 1:1 molar ratio of PMS and removed SO2. The presence of HOO bonds in the PMS introduced a partial positive charge to the oxygen atom, making the PMS polar and more susceptible to be attacked by the nucleophile HSO3-. So SO2 underwent a series of processes including dissolution, dissociation, one-oxygen atom transfer, and ionization before ultimately being converted into SO42- ions, effectively achieving its removal from flue gas. This study may presents a novel approach for achieving high-efficiency flue gas desulfurization.

Removal of NO in flue gas simulated by the Fe2+/Cu2+-activated double oxidant system

⋅ O H The wet denitrification technology has a good development prospect due to its simple system and mild reaction conditions, and related research has become a hot topic in the field of flue gas purification. In this work, a novel simultaneous removal technology of NO from flue gas using Fe2+/Cu2+-catalytic H2O2/(NH4)2S2O8 system was developed for the first time. The feasibility of this new flue gas cleaning technology was explored through a series of experiments and performance analyses. The mechanism of oxidation products, free radicals and simultaneous removal of NO was revealed. The effects of the main process parameters on the removal of NO were investigated. Relevant results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of NO was elevated when the concentration of (NH4)2S2O8 or reacting temperature increased, while it was decreased after increasing the raising of Fe2+, Cu2+ and H2O2 concentrations. The main radicals were and·S O 4 - , using the electron spin resonance technique in the solution, and played a very important role in NO removal. The main products were carried out by ion chromatography and elemental N material accountancy, and the results showed that it was sulfate and nitrate in the solution, which provided theoretical guidance for the subsequent treatment and resource utilization of the absorption solution. The results of the study provided a theoretical basis for the industrial application of wet denitrification.Highlights A new green process of NO removal by a wet process with Fe2+/Cu2+ activated (NH4)2S2O8 system is proposed in this paper;Elimination mechanisms and paths of NO are elucidated;The synergistic role produced by Cu2+ and Fe2+ is beneficial to the purification of NO;The synergistic role produced by (NH4)2S2O8 and H2O2 increased the concentration of free radicals in the solution;This process jointly considers the enhanced removal of NO and recycling of transition metal ions.

Comparative study on direct and indirect methods for wet desulphurisation and denitrification based on micro-nano bubbles

The wet desulphurisation and denitrification technique based on micro-nano bubbles, which is available by either D-method or I-method, is a promising novel process. By employing piped water, Na2SO3 aqueous solution and HA-Na aqueous solution as the absorption liquids, a comparative study was conducted in this article on D-method and I-method to analyze their performance, advantages and disadvantages. It was accompanied by an investigation of how initial pH and initial temperature values of the absorption liquids affected the removal efficiency. The results suggested a positive correlation between NO/SO2 removal efficiencies and pH values but a little improvement in the removal efficiency under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, heating the absorption liquids inhibited the removal of NO and SO2. When manipulated in the same experimental environment, D-method and I-method did not present a significant difference in the SO2 removal efficiency, while the former was remarkably more effective than the latter in removing NO. To put together, D-method had higher removal efficiency, but required a large-scale micro-nano bubble generator to process a large quantity of flue gas as the micro-nano bubble generator was subject to a limited inlet flow rate. Consequently, an increase in investment and operating costs was incurred, while this issue could be avoided by I-method.

Tannic acid promotes the activation of persulfate with Fe(ii) for highly efficient trichloroethylene removal

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority pollutant that is difficult to be removed by some remediation methods. For instance, TCE removal using persulfate (PS) activated by ferrous iron (Fe(ii)) has been tested but is limited by the unstable Fe(ii) concentration and the initial pH of contaminated water samples. Here we reported a new TCE removal system, in which tannic acid (TA) promoted the activation of PS with Fe(ii) (TA-Fe(ii)-PS system). The effect of initial pH, temperature, and concentrations of PS, Fe(ii), TA, inorganic anions and humic acid on TCE removal was investigated. We found that the TA-Fe(ii)-PS system with 80 mg L-1 of TA, 1.5 mM of Fe(ii) and 15 mM of PS yielded about 96.2-99.1% TCE removal in the pH range of 1.5-11.0. Radical quenching experiments were performed to identify active species. Results showed that SO4˙- and ˙OH were primarily responsible for TCE removal in the TA-Fe(ii)-PS system. In the presence of TA, the Fe-TA chelation and the reduction of TA could regulate Fe(ii) concentration and activate persulfate for continuously releasing reactive species under alkaline conditions. Based on the excellent removal performance for TCE, the TA-Fe(ii)-PS system becomes a promising candidate for controlling TCE in groundwater.

Treatment of complex sulfur-containing solutions in ammonia desulfurization ammonium sulfate production by ultrasonic-assisted ozone technology

In this work, the cause of abnormal color in ammonium sulfate products formed by flue gas desulfurization is revealed by investigating the conversion relationship between different sulfur-containing ions and their behavior in a sulfuric acid medium. Both thiosulfate (S2O32-) and sulfite (SO32- ＆ HSO3-) impurities affect the quality of ammonium sulfate. The S2O32- is the main reason for the yellowing of the product due to the formation of sulfur impurities in concentrated sulfuric acid. To address the yellowing of ammonium sulfate products, a unified technology (US/O3), using ozone (O3) and ultrasonic waves (US) simultaneously, is exploited to remove both thiosulfate and sulfite impurities from the mother liquor. The effect of different reaction parameters on the degree of removal of thiosulfate and sulfite is investigated. The synergistic effect of ultrasound and ozone on ion oxidation is further explored and demonstrated by the comparative experiments with O3 and US/O3. Under the optimized conditions, the thiosulfate and sulfite concentration in the solution is 2.07 and 5.93 g/L, respectively, and the degree of removal is 91.39 and 90.83%, respectively. The product obtained after evaporation and crystallization is pure white and meets the national standard requirements for ammonium sulfate products. Under the same conditions, the US/O3 process has apparent advantages, such as saving reaction time compared with the O3 process alone. Introducing an ultrasonically intensified field improves the generation of oxidation radicals ·OH, 1O2, and ·O2- in the solution. Furthermore, the effectiveness of different oxidation components in the decolorization process is studied by adding other radical shielding agents using the US/O3 process supplemented with EPR analysis. The order of the different oxidation components is O3(86.04%) > 1O2(6.53%) > •OH(4.45%) > •O2-(2.97%) for the oxidation of thiosulfate, and it is O3(86.28%) > •OH(7.49%) > 1O2(4.99%) > •O2-(1.25%) for the oxidation of sulfite.

Simultaneous removal of NO, SO2 and Hg0 with the WDRMRS

Micro-nanobubbles can spontaneously generate hydroxyl free radicals (OH). Urea is a cheap reductant and can react with NO_x species, and their products are nontoxic and harmless N₂, CO₂ and H₂O. In this study, a Wet Direct Recycling Micro-nanobubble Flue Gas Multi-pollutants Removal System (WDRMRS) was developed for the simultaneous removal of NO, SO₂ and Hg⁰. In this system, a micro-nanobubble generator (MNBG) was used to produce a micro-nanobubble gas-liquid dispersion system (MNBGLS) through recycling the urea solution from the reactor and the simulated flue gas composed of N₂, NO, SO₂ and Hg⁰. The MNBGLS, which has a large gas-liquid dispersion interface, was recycled continuously from the MNBG to the reactor, thus achieving cyclic absorption of various pollutants. All of the investigated parameters, including the initial pH and temperature of the absorbent as well as the concentrations of urea, NO and SO₂ had significant effects on the NO removal efficiency but did not significantly affect the SO₂ removal efficiency, whereas only the initial solution pH and NO concentration affected the Hg⁰ removal efficiency. The analysis results of the reaction mechanism showed that ·OH played a critical role in the removal of various pollutants. After the treatment by this system, the main removal products were Hg⁰ sediment, SO42- and NH4+ which could be easily recycled. The use of this system (MNBGLS) for the simultaneous removal of NO, SO₂ and Hg⁰ is a new technology application and research. Recycling process based on MNBGLS succeeded in simultaneously removing NO, SO₂ and Hg⁰. The system (MNBGLS) can provide a reference for commercial applications. The removal products are relatively simple and beneficial to recycling, which can reduce the cost of waste gas treatment.

The removal of NO from flue gas by NaOH-catalyzed H2O2 system: Mechanism exploration and primary experiment

Currently, most advanced oxidation denitrification technologies require long flue gas residence time to obtain ideal NO removal efficiency. The NaOH-catalyzed H₂O₂ system proposed in this paper can obtain 98% NO removal efficiency under the condition of flue gas residence time of 3 s. The mechanism of NO removal and H₂O₂ decomposition to O₂ were proposed. It was confirmed with ESR (Electron-spin-resonance), inhibitor experiments and UV-Vis spectrophotometer that the main group in the reaction process was·O₂^- radicals, which reacted with NO to form ONOO^-, and ONOO^- would be gradually transformed into NO₃^- and NO₂^- in the air. The effect of some primary factors on the NO removal efficiency and the percentage of H₂O₂ decomposition to O₂ were also investigated. The increase of initial pH has a positive effect on NO removal, while the promotion of NO removal by increasing H₂O₂ concentration and reaction temperature is limited and the increase of NO has a negative effect on NO removal. Initial pH has a dual impact on the percentage of H₂O₂ decomposition to O₂, H₂O₂ concentration and reaction temperature promote the decomposition of H₂O₂ to O₂, while NO concentration has an inhibiting effect on it.

Purification Technologies for NOx Removal from Flue Gas: A Review

Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is a major gaseous pollutant in flue gases from power plants, industrial processes, and waste incineration that can have adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Many denitrification (de-NOx) technologies have been developed to reduce NOx emissions in the past several decades. This paper provides a review of the recent literature on NOx post-combustion purification methods with different reagents. From the perspective of changes in the valence of nitrogen (N), purification technologies against NOx in flue gas are classified into three approaches: oxidation, reduction, and adsorption/absorption. The removal processes, mechanisms, and influencing factors of each method are systematically reviewed. In addition, the main challenges and potential breakthroughs of each method are discussed in detail and possible directions for future research activities are proposed. This review provides a fundamental and systematic understanding of the mechanisms of denitrification from flue gas and can help researchers select high-performance and cost-effective methods.

Simultaneous Nitrite Resourcing and Mercury Ion Removal Using MXene-Anchored Goethite Heterogeneous Fenton Composite

The integrated system of gas-phase advanced oxidation process combined with sulfite-based wet absorption process is a desirable method for simultaneous removal of SO₂, NO, and Hg⁰, but due to the enrichment of nitrite and Hg²⁺, resourcing harmless wastewater is still a challenge. To tackle this problem, this study fabricated a bifunctional β-FeOOH@MXene heterogeneous Fenton material, of which the crystalline phase, morphology, structure, and composition were revealed by using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It exhibits excellent performance on nitrite oxidation (99.5%) and Hg²⁺ removal (99.7%) and can maintain stable outstanding ability after 13 cycles, with superior Hg²⁺ adsorption capacity (395 mg/g) and ultralow Fe leaching loss (<0.018 wt %). The synergism between MXene and β-FeOOH appears as follows: (i) MXene, as an inductive agent, directionally converted Fe₂O₃ into β-FeOOH in the hydrothermal method and greatly reduced its monomer size; (ii) the introduced ≡Ti(III)/≡Ti(II) accelerated the regeneration of ≡Fe(II) via rapid electron transfer, thereby improving the heterogeneous Fenton reaction; and (iii) MXene strongly immobilized β-FeOOH to greatly inhibit Fe-leaching. HO^•, ^•O₂^--, and ¹O₂ were the main radicals identified by electron spin resonance. Radical quenching tests showed their contributions to NO₂^- oxidation in the descending order HO^• > ¹O₂ > ^•O₂^-. Quantum chemical calculations revealed that ^•OH-induced oxidation of NO₂^- or HNO₂ was the primary reaction path. Density functional theory calculations combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman characterizations displayed the Hg²⁺ removal mechanism, with Hg₂Cl₂, HgCl₂, and HgO as the main byproducts. This novel material provides a new strategy for resourcing harmless wastewater containing nitrite and Hg²⁺.

Reaction Behavior and Influencing Mechanisms of Different Fly Ashes on the NO Removal by Using the Ultraviolet Irradiating Chlorite Method

Our previous work had demonstrated that UV/NaClO₂ was the best advanced oxidation method in terms of nitric oxide (NO) removal, but we have not studied the impact of the fly ash on NO removal under such conditions. For this, this paper selected six kinds of fly ashes and studied their effects on NO removal. The micromorphology, elemental composition, and the elemental oxidation states of these six fly ashes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma methods. The main inorganic components in the six fly ashes are metal oxides (Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, ZnO, MgO, and TiO₂), carbonates (Na₂CO₃ and CaCO₃), and chlorides (NaCl, KCl, and MgCl₂). The experimental results suggested that high solubility was the premise condition for the fly ashes exhibiting an inhibitory effect on NO removal. Among all of the metal compounds, Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ exhibited the highest inhibitory contribution rate to the NO removal (22.9-45.7%). The anions of Cl^- and CO₃ ^2- acted as scavengers for the free radicals which greatly impaired the oxidation of NO. Based on the simulation experimental results and the UV-vis analysis, the order of inhibitory contribution rates of various metal compounds to the NO removal was determined as Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄ > TiO₂ ≈ Na₂CO₃ > Al₂O₃ ≈ ZnO ≈ MnO₂ > CaCO₃ > NaCl > KCl ≈ SiO₂ ≈ MgCl₂.

Removal of SO2 from smelting flue gas by using copper tailings with MnSO4: factors optimization by response surface methodology

The abatement of SO₂ and the utilization of copper tailings are identified as two attention-attracting environmental issues in the copper smelter. In this study, to improve the flue gas desulfurization performance and the utilization of copper tailings, SO₂ removal from smelting flue gas by using copper tailings combined with MnSO₄·H₂O was investigated. The effects of operation variables, including inlet SO₂ concentration, absorption temperature, slurry concentration, and MnSO₄·H₂O amount, on the flue gas desulfurization performance were studied based on the response surface method. It was found that the effect of operation variables on SO₂ removal follows the descending order: the inlet SO₂ concentration, MnSO₄·H₂O concentration, absorbent temperature, and solid-liquid ratio. The interaction between the inlet SO₂ concentration and MnSO₄·H₂O concentration is an important factor for breakthrough sulfur capacity. Elevated temperature and high initial SO₂ concentration inhibited the efficient removal of SO₂. Moreover, a proposed equation exhibits good consistency in the prediction for the breakthrough sulfur dioxide capacity. Therefore, the results can provide a reliable reference and basis for industrial application for flue gas desulfurization with copper tailings.

Degradation and chlorination mechanism of fumaric acid based on SO4•-: an experimental and theoretical study

It is well known that chloride ions could affect the oxidation kinetics and mechanism of contaminant based on SO₄^•- in the wastewater. Here, the degradation of an organic acid, fumaric acid (FA), was investigated in the presence of chloride (0-300 mM) by the Fe(II)/peroxymonosulfate (Fe(II)/PMS) system. A negative impact of chloride was observed on the rates of FA degradation. The degree of inhibitory effect was higher in Fe(II)/PMS addition order. Some chlorinated byproducts were identified during the FA oxidation process in the presence of Cl^- by the ultraperformance liquid chromatography and quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTOF-MS). With the increasing content of Cl^-, an accumulation of adsorbable organic halogen (AOX), an increase in acute toxicity, and an inhibition of mineralization were observed. According to the results of kinetic modeling, the production and transformation of oxidative species were dependent on Cl^- dosage and reaction time. SO₄^•- was supposed to be the main radical for FA degradation with Cl^- concentration below 5 mM, whereas Cl₂^•- was primarily responsible for the depletion of FA at [Cl^-] > 5 mM. A possible degradation pathway of FA was discussed. This study reveals the potential environmental risk of organic acid and is necessary to explore useful strategies for ameliorating the treatment of chloride-rich wastewater.

A Critical Review on Removal of Gaseous Pollutants Using Sulfate Radical-based Advanced Oxidation Technologies

Excessive emissions of gaseous pollutants such as SO₂, NO_x, heavy metals (Hg, As, etc.), H₂S, VOCs, etc. have triggered a series of environmental pollution incidents. Sulfate radical (SO₄•^-)-based advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) are one of the most promising gaseous pollutants removal technologies because they can not only produce active free radicals with strong oxidation ability to simultaneously degrade most of gaseous pollutants, but also their reaction processes are environmentally friendly. However, so far, the special review focusing on gaseous pollutants removal using SO₄•^--based AOTs is not reported. This review reports the latest advances in removal of gaseous pollutants (e.g., SO₂, NO_x, Hg, As, H₂S, and VOCs) using SO₄•^--based AOTs. The performance, mechanism, active species identification and advantages/disadvantages of these removal technologies using SO₄•^--based AOTs are reviewed. The existing challenges and further research suggestions are also commented. Results show that SO₄•^--based AOTs possess good development potential in gaseous pollutant control field due to simple reagent transportation and storage, low product post-treatment requirements and strong degradation ability of refractory pollutants. Each SO₄•^--based AOT possesses its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of removal performance, cost, reliability, and product post-treatment. Low free radical yield, poor removal capacity, unclear removal mechanism/contribution of active species, unreliable technology and high cost are still the main problems in this field. The combined use of multiactivation technologies is one of the promising strategies to overcome these defects since it may make up for the shortcomings of independent technology. In order to improve free radical yield and pollutant removal capacity, enhancement of mass transfer and optimization design of reactor are critical issues. Comprehensive consideration of catalytic materials, removal chemistry, mass transfer and reactor is the promising route to solve these problems. In order to clarify removal mechanism, it is essential to select suitable free radical sacrificial agents, probes and spin trapping agents, which possess high selectivity for target specie, high solubility in water, and little effect on activity of catalyst itself and mass transfer/diffusion parameters. In order to further reduce investment and operating costs, it is necessary to carry out the related studies on simultaneous removal of more gaseous pollutants.

Enhanced oxidative removal of NO by UV/in situ Fenton: Factors, kinetics and simulation

A series of experiments on the oxidative removal of NO from flue gas using a novel in situ Fenton (IF) system was performed in the presence of ultraviolet light (UV). The comparison tests revealed that the in situ Fenton system facilitated by UV (UV/IF) has a better oxidation ability of NO than that of the IF system due to the photochemical effect on the generation of oxidative species like (OH). Both of the aforementioned oxidation efficiencies were higher than that of the conventional Fenton system (CF) depending on the premix of Fe²⁺ and H₂O₂ solutions, which attribute to the improvement of (OH) yield and valid utilization with continuous addition of fresh reagents and UV radiation. In follow-up experiments, the effects of UV power, gas flow rate, reagent temperature, Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ molar ratio, initial pH, initial concentration of NO and SO₂ and volume fraction O₂ and CO₂ on the oxidative removal of NO by UV/IF method were investigated respectively. Moreover, the results of kinetic analysis indicated that NO oxidation was confirmed to have a pseudo-first-order kinetics pattern. The rate constants decreased slightly with increasing liquid temperature, and then the apparent activation energy of NO oxidation reactions in the UV/IF system was calculated as -5.62 kJ/mol by the Arrhenius equation. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism and application prospects concerning NO oxidative removal by using the UV/IF system was speculated in brief. Finally, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations revealed that the improvement of axial and radial gas hold-up would enhance the gas-liquid contact and accelerate the oxidation reactions on the interface. In addition to reasonable control of process parameters, the optimization of reactor interior structure needs to be carried out via CFD simulation and experimental validation in future research, both are favourable to promote the NO oxidation efficiency and large-scale development of this technology.

Recent advances in hybrid wet scrubbing techniques for NOx and SO2 removal: State of the art and future research

Recently, the discharge of flue gas has become a global issue due to the rapid development in industrial and anthropogenic activities. Various dry and wet treatment approaches including conventional and hybrid hybrid wet scrubbing have been employing to combat against these toxic exhaust emissions. However, certain issues i.e., large energy consumption, generation of secondary pollutants, low regeneration of scrubbing liquid and high efficieny are hindering their practical applications on industrial level. Despite this, the hybrid wet scrubbing technique (advanced oxidation, ionic-liquids and solid engineered interface hybrid materials based techniques) is gaining great attention because of its low installation costs, simultaneous removal of multi-air pollutants and low energy requirements. However, the lack of understanding about the basic principles and fundamental requirements are great hurdles for its commercial scale application, which is aim of this review article. This review article highlights the recent developments, minimization of GHG, sustainable improvements for the regeneration of used catalyst via green and electron rich donors. It explains, various hybrid wet scrubbing techniques can perform well under mild condition with possible improvements such as development of stable, heterogeneous catalysts, fast and in-situ regeneration for large scale applications. Finally, it discussed recovery of resources i.e., N₂O, NH₃ and N₂, the key challenges about several competitive side products and loss of catalytic activity over time to treat toxic gases via feasible solutions by hybrid wet scrubbing techniques.

Improving sono-activated persulfate oxidation using mechanical mixing in a 35-kHz ultrasonic reactor: Persulfate activation mechanism and its application

This study investigated the degradation of ibuprofen (IBP), an activated persulfate (PS), when subjected to ultrasonic (US) irradiation and mechanical mixing (M). The effects of several critical factors were evaluated, including the effect of rpm on M, PS concentration, and initial pH, and that of temperature on IBP degradation kinetics and the PS activation mechanism. The resulting IBP oxidation rate constant was significantly higher at 400 rpm. As the PS load increased, the IBP oxidation rate constant increased. The value of the IBP reaction rate increased with decreasing pH; below pH 4.9, there was no significant difference in the IBP oxidation rate constant. The IBP oxidation activation energy when using the US/M-PS system was 18.84 kJ mol^-1. In the US/M-PS system, PS activation was the primary effect of temperature at the interface during the explosion of cavitation bubbles. These encouraging results suggest that the US-PS/M process is a promising strategy for the treatment of IBP-based water pollutants.

Review on the NO removal from flue gas by oxidation methods

Due to the increasingly strict emission standards of NOx on various industries, many traditional flue gas treatment methods have been gradually improved. Except for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) methods to remove NOx from flue gas, theoxidation method is paying more attention to NOx removal now because of the potential to simultaneously remove multiple pollutants from flue gas. This paper summarizes the efficiency, reaction conditions, effect factors, and reaction mechanism of NO oxidation from the aspects of liquid-phase oxidation, gas-phase oxidation, plasma technology, and catalytic oxidation. The effects of free radicals and active components of catalysts on NO oxidation and the combination of various oxidation methods are discussed in detail. The advantages and disadvantages of different oxidation methods are summarized, and the suggestions for future research on NO oxidation are put forward at the end. The review on the NO removal by oxidation methods can provide new ideas for future studies on the NO removal from flue gas.

Sonochemical fabrication of inorganic nanoparticles for applications in catalysis

Catalysis covers almost all the chemical reactions or processes aiming for many applications. Sonochemistry has emerged in designing and developing the synthesis of nano-structured materials, and the latest progress mainly focuses on the synthetic strategies, product properties as well as catalytic applications. This current review simply presents the sonochemical effects under ultrasound irradiation, roughly describes the ultrasound-synthesized inorganic nano-materials, and highlights the sonochemistry applications in the inorganics-based catalysis processes including reduction, oxidation, degradation, polymerization, etc. Or all in all, the review hopes to provide an integrated understanding of sonochemistry, emphasize the great significance of ultrasound-assisted synthesis in structured materials as a unique strategy, and broaden the updated applications of ultrasound irradiation in the catalysis fields.

Simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx with OH from the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 over Fe-Mo mixed oxides

In this paper, the simultaneous removal of SO₂ and NO_x catalyzed by Fe-Mo mixed oxides at varying Mo/Fe atomic ratios was reported for the first time with the aim of reducing H₂O₂ consumption and elucidating the roles of Fe and Mo species in the catalytic process. Fe-Mo mixed oxides with varying Mo/Fe atomic ratios were synthesized and the catalytic performances were systematically studied. The catalyst with Mo/Fe atomic ratio of 2.0 exhibited the highest activity, with which removal efficiencies of 89.4 % for NO_x and 100 % for SO₂ can be attained at extremely low H₂O₂ dosage. Products analysis revealed that SO₂ was mainly removed via wet scrubber, while the adequate oxidation resulting from OH radicals was the prerequisite for NO_x removal. The redox pair of Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ played a significant role in decomposing H₂O₂, while Mo species had double effect on catalytic activity. Higher Mo content resulted in abundant oxygen vacancies and stronger surface acidity, which favored OH formation. However, the excessive Mo content involved severe surface Mo enrichment and remarkably reduced the active sites of Fe species. The H₂O₂/Fe-Mo catalyst system showed excellent stability and had a promising prospect for simultaneously removing SO₂ and NO_x in coal-fired flue gas.

Synthesis of oxygen vacancy-enriched N/P co-doped CoFe2O4 for high-efficient degradation of organic pollutant: Mechanistic insight into radical and nonradical evolution

Oxygen vacancy-enriched N/P co-doped cobalt ferrite (NPCFO) was synthesized using ionic liquid as N and P sources, and then the catalytic performance and mechanism of NPCFO upon peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for the degradation of organic pollutants were investigated. The as-synthesized NPCFO-700 exhibited excellent catalytic performance in activating PMS, and the degradation rate constant of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) increased with the increase of OV concentration in NPCFO-x. EPR analysis confirmed the existence of ·OH, SO₄^·-, and ¹O₂ in the NPCFO-700/PMS system, in which OV could induce the generation of ¹O₂ by PMS adsorption and successive capture, and also served as electronic transfer medium to accelerate the redox cycle of M²⁺/M³⁺ (M denotes Co or Fe) for the generation of radical to synergistically degrade organic pollutants. In addition, the contribution of free radical and nonradical to 4-CP degradation was observed to be strongly dependent on solution pH, and SO₄^·- was the major ROS in 4-CP degradation under acid and alkaline condition, while ¹O₂ was involved in the degradation of 4-CP under neutral condition due its selective oxidation capacity, as evidenced by the fact that such organic pollutants with ionization potential (IP) below 9.0 eV were more easily attacked by ¹O₂. The present study provided a novel insight into the development of transition metal-based heterogeneous catalyst containing massive OV for high-efficient PMS activation and degradation of organic pollutants.

A novel combined system using Na2S2O8/urea to simultaneously remove SO2 and NO in marine diesel engine exhaust

The novel combined system using Na₂S₂O₈/urea was used to simultaneously absorb nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from marine diesel engines as well as inhibit the formation of nitrate in cleaning wastewater to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of regulations. The influences of reaction temperature, Na₂S₂O₈ concentration, urea concentration, SO₂ concentration, NO concentration and pH value on SO₂ removal efficiency, NO removal efficiency and nitrate concentration were investigated. The experimental results showed that different reaction temperatures had different influences on SO₂ removal efficiency, NO removal efficiency and nitrate concentration. An increase in Na₂S₂O₈ could improve the absorption of NO. The addition of urea could effectively improve the removal efficiency of NO and reduce the nitrate concentration. The removal efficiencies of 1000 ppm NO and 1000 ppm SO₂ achieved 100 % with 0.2 mol/L Na₂S₂O₈ and 2 mol/L urea at 70℃, and the nitrate content was 8.56 mg/L which was far lower than the regulatory requirement of 60 mg/L. The acidic condition (pH ≤ 5.5) not only facilitated the absorption of NO but also reduced the generation of nitrate. According to the experimental results, the novel combined system was promising to be applied to the control technology of marine diesel engine exhaust.

Simultaneous removal of NO and SO2 with a micro-bubble gas-liquid dispersion system based on air/H2O2/Na2S2O8

A novel environment-friendly process was proposed to conduct the simultaneous removal of NO and SO₂. In this process, a micro-bubble generator was utilized to generate the micro-bubble gas-liquid dispersion system (MBGLS) by inhaling mixed gas (NO, SO₂ and/or air) and absorption liquid. The MBGLS was then sprayed into an oxidation absorption column reactor, in which NO and SO₂ were oxidized and absorbed. As the additives, air, H₂O₂ and/or Na₂S₂O₈ were brought into the MBGLS to investigate their effects on the simultaneous removal of NO and SO₂. In addition, the effects of initial pH and temperature of the absorption liquid on the simultaneous removal of NO and SO₂ were also explored. The performance of the MBGLS in removing NO and SO₂ was excellent. Even if the MBGLS was composed of tap water, NO and SO₂, the removal efficiencies of NO and SO₂ respectively reached 78% and 94.4%. The additives significantly improved the removal performance of the MBGLS. Under the conditions of pH = 8 and room temperature and the addition of air, SO₂ was removed completely and the NO removal efficiency reached 99.5% when Na₂S₂O₈ to H₂O₂ molar ratio was 0.005/0.05. The effect of the absorbent temperature on the removal of NO and SO₂ was insignificant. With the increase in pH, the removal of NO in both H₂O₂ aqueous solution and Na₂S₂O₈ aqueous solution firstly increased and then decreased, but pH had no effect on the removal of SO₂.

NOx attenuation in flue gas by •OH/SO4•--based advanced oxidation processes

The combustion of fossil fuels has resulted in rapidly increasing emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO_x), which has caused serious human health and environmental problems. NO capture has become a research focus in gas purification because NO accounts for more than 90% of NO_x and is difficult to remove. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), features the little secondary pollution and the broad-spectrum strong oxidation of hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), are effective and promising strategies for NO removal from coal-fired flue gas. This review provides the state of the art of NO removal by AOPs, highlighting several methods for producing ^•OH and SO₄^•-. According to the main radicals responsible for NO removal, these processes are classified into two categories: hydroxyl radical-based AOPs (HR-AOPs) and sulfate radical-based AOPs (SR-AOPs). This paper also reviews the mechanisms of NO capture by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and SO₄^•- in various AOPs. A HiGee (high-gravity) enhanced AOP process for improving NO removal, characterized by intensified gas-liquid mass transfer and efficient micro-mixing, is then proposed and discussed in brief. We believe that this review will be useful for workers in this field. Graphical abstract.

Simultaneous removal of SO2, NO and Hg0 using an enhanced gas phase UV-AOP method

The core for simultaneous removal of SO₂, NO and Hg⁰ is the oxidation of NO and Hg⁰. Radical induced oxidation of NO and Hg⁰ is considered to be the most efficient method. We develop a novel gas phase advanced oxidation process (AOP) of UV-Heat/H₂O₂-NaClO₂ to simultaneously remove SO₂, NO and Hg⁰ due to a great synergism between H₂O₂ and NaClO₂ under thermal and ultraviolet (UV) co-catalysis. The results indicated that the SO₂ removal was always good, while the removal of NO and Hg⁰ was affected by NaClO₂ and UV. Higher catalytic temperature and longer flue gas residence time favored the removal of NO and Hg⁰. The presence of SO₂ and NO facilitated Hg⁰ removal. Kinetics analyses were conducted to provide the reaction rate of removal of NO and Hg⁰ under different conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the product composition as Cl^-, Hg²⁺, NO₃^- and SO₄^2-. Electron spin resonance (ESR) tests confirmed the generation of HO. Cost analyses demonstrated the better cost performance of the proposed method compared to SCR-ACI combined method. HO and ClO₂ were proved to be the main oxidant. The reaction mechanism for removal of NO and Hg⁰ by using UV-Heat/H₂O₂-NaClO₂ were proposed finally.

Monolith Metal-Oxide-Supported Catalysts: Sorbent for Environmental Application

The emission of untreated environmental harmful gases such as sulfur and nitrogen oxide (SOx and NOx) emissions is considered old fashioned, since industries are compelled by governments and legislations to meet the minimum threshold before emitting such substances into the atmosphere. Numerous research has been done and is ongoing to come up with both cost-effective equipment and regenerable catalysts that are adsorbent—or with enhanced sorption capacity—and with safer disposal methods. This work presents the general idea of a monolith/catalyst for environmental application and the technicality for improving the surface area for fast and efficient adsorption–desorption reactions. The chemical reactions, adsorption kinetics, and other properties, including deactivation, regeneration, and the disposal of a catalyst in view of environmental application, are extensively discussed.

Effect of preparation and reaction conditions on the performance of In/H-Beta for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with CH4

In/H-Beta catalyst was prepared by optimizing the support, concentration of ion exchange liquid and calcination temperature to investigate the effects of synthesis conditions on catalytic activity of selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with CH₄. The results showed that the In/H-Beta catalyst exhibited the superior activity when concentration of exchange liquid was 0.033 M and calcination temperature was 500 °C, the NO_x removal ratio could reach 97.6%. In addition, reaction conditions could affect the catalytic performance. When O₂ concentration was 10%, CH₄:NO ratio was no less than one, space velocity was lower than 23600 h^-1 and NO initial concentration was no more than 700 ppm, In/H-Beta could exhibit superior catalytic activity. Moreover, the catalytic performances of In/H-Beta catalysts were discussed after enduring H₂O or/and SO₂. This novel strategy could open the door for selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with CH₄.

Degradation of furfural in aqueous solution using activated persulfate and peroxymonosulfate by ultrasound irradiation

Furfural is a toxic compound that can cause many problems for human health and the environment. In this study, we addressed the degradation of furfural in aqueous solution using the activated persulfate (SPS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) through the ultrasonic (US) wave. Besides, the effect of various parameters (pH, oxidizing dose, initial furfural concentration, US frequency, Inorganic anions concentration, and scavenger) on SPS + US (SPS/US) and PMS + US (PMS/US) processes were examined. The results showed, in order to furfural removal, the US had excellent efficiency in activating SPS and PMS, as in SPS/US and PMS/US processes, 95.3% and 58.4% of furfural (at 25 mg/L concentration) was decomposed in 90 min, respectively. The furfural degradation rate increased with increasing oxidizing dose and US frequency in both SPS/US and PMS/US processes. Considering the synergistic effect, the best removal rate has occurred in the SPS/US process. In the SPS/US and PMS/US processes, furfural removal increased at natural pH (pH 7), and the presence of inorganic anions such as NO₃^- and Cl^- had negative effects on furfural removal efficiency. Also CO₃^2- and HCO₃^- acted as a radical scavenger in the SPS/US process but these anions in the PMS/US process produced more SO₄^-° radicals, and subsequently, they increased the furfural degradation rate. The results also showed that the predominant radical in the oxidation reactions is the sulfate radical. This study showed that the SPS/US and PMS/US processes are promising methods for degrading organic pollutants in the environment.

MnOx-CuOx cordierite catalyst for selective catalytic oxidation of the NO at low temperature

Low-value solid waste cordierite honeycomb ceramics were used as carrier of SCO denitration catalyst, and the active component was supported by the impregnation method to improve the performance of the catalyst. Firstly, the effect of calcination conditions on the denitration performance of the Mn-loaded cordierite catalyst was studied for the cordierite-loaded active component MnO_X. Secondly, the preferred catalyst was reloaded with another active component to further improve its denitration performance; the bimetal ratios were affected by the denitration performance, which was, finally, characterized by XRD, XPS, and SEM. The result shows the following: (1) Mn-loaded cordierite prepared at 450 °C for 3 h has a good denitration effect; (2) the MnO_X-CuO_X/CR catalyst is superior to MnO_X-FeO_X/CR, MnO_X-CoO_X/CR, and MnO_X-CeO_X/CR; (3) the MnO₂ crystal form in the single metal-supported catalyst plays a major role, and Cu₂Mn₃O₈ in the bimetallic catalyst affects the performance and activity of the catalyst. Graphical abstract.

An efficient and environmentally friendly process for the reduction of SO2 by using waste phosphate mine tailings as adsorbent

The emission of SO₂ and the disposal of waste phosphate mine tailings are generally regarded as two major environmental issues in phosphorus chemical activities. In this paper, an environmentally friendly and efficient route for removing SO₂ from phosphorus chemical processes by using waste phosphate mine tailings as adsorbent was proposed. It was indicated that the desulfurization performance of the waste phosphate mine tailings was better than that of its raw ore. The characterization analysis illustrated that higher content of CaMg(CO₃)₂ was shown on the waste phosphate mine tailings, which played a dominant role in determining the better desulfurization activity. In contrast, the accumulation of PO₄^3- and H⁺ ions resulted from the dissolution of Ca₅(PO₄)₃F on the raw ore caused negative effect on SO₂ removal. In the typical desulfurization system, the produced sulfuric acid from desulfurization process was used to decompose phosphate mine tailings, and these spent tailings can be subsequently applied as raw materials for the production of phosphorus products. As a result, the present approach can achieve the dual goal of reducing the cost of desulfurization process and recycling the waste tailings, which is of great environmental and economic significance.

Multi-air-pollutant removal by using an integrated system: Key parameters assessment and reaction mechanism

How to cost-efficiently and cooperatively remove SO₂, NO and Hg⁰ in flue gas is a hot topic in the field of air pollution control. This work developed an integrated system that consists of a dual-absorption system and a vapor oxidation system, in which Na₂CO₃ and H₂O₂/Na₂S₂O₈ were used as the absorbent and oxidant. The results indicated that the efficiencies of SO₂ removal and NO conversion reached 99.5% and 93% respectively. Rising the vaporization temperature and decreasing the pH of H₂O₂/Na₂S₂O₈ could facilitate the NO conversion. The spent Na₂CO₃ after desulfurization was demonstrated to be a good absorbent for NO₂ removal. The best conditions of pH and temperatures for the dual-absorber were determined as 10/8 and 60/60 °C, respectively. The presence of 1000 mg/m³ SO₂ and 300 mg/m³ NO favored the Hg⁰ removal. TMT-15, an organic sulfur compound, was demonstrated to be useful in retaining Hg²⁺, with an efficiency of 92%. According to the analyses of electron spin resonance (ESR), ion chromatography (IC), atom fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SO₄^- and HO were proved to be the key radicals, and the existing forms of N- and Hg- species in the product were identified as NaNO₂/NaNO₃ and HgCl₂.

Full spectrum driven SCR removal of NO over hierarchical CeVO4/attapulgite nanocomposite with high resistance to SO2 and H2O

Removal of hazardous NO at low temperature via photo-assisted selective catalytic reduction (photo-SCR) strategy is promising, however fully harvesting of solar energy and achieving high SO₂/H₂O tolerance still remain a challenge. Herein, the phosphoric acid modified natural attapulgite(P-ATP) was employed as a matrix to immobilize CeVO₄ by microwave hydrothermal method. Results show that P-ATP provides abundant active sites facilitating the in situ grow of CeVO₄ nanorods on its surface which hierarchically construct a dendritic-like photocatalyst. The near-infrared (NIR) light is upconverted to visible and UV light through CeVO₄ which not only broaden the absorption range of solar light, but also build Z-scheme heterostructure with P-ATP enhancing the redox potential of charge carriers. The CeVO₄/P-ATP nanocomposite can reach as high as 92 % for NO conversion under full-spectrum solar irradiation, while retaining nearly 60 % conversion under NIR light. Moreover, the catalyst exhibits outstanding tolerance with SO₂ and H₂O due to the presence of Ce species which can prevent NH₃ from being sulfated, while ATP prevent catalyst from being corroded by H₂O. This work may open up a new window for full-spectrum driven SCR of NO based on cost-effective mineral catalyst.

Simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification from flue gas by catalytic ozonation combined with NH3/(NH4)2S2O8 absorption: Mechanisms and recovery of compound fertilizer

An integrated method of simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification from flue gas by catalytic ozonation combined with NH₃/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈ absorption was developed for the first time. It consisted of two parts: (1) the catalytic ozonation of NO over FeO_x/SAPO-34 to study the effects of the various influencing factors, and (2) the absorption-oxidation of NO_x and SO₂ induced by ozone combined with a NH₃/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈ solution in a bubble column reactor. In Part 1, results showed that under the optimal condition of a molar ratio of 0.5 for O₃/NO, a residence time of 3 s, a water vapor volume fraction of 4%, a NO initial concentration of 536 mg/m³, and a SO₂ initial concentration of 343 mg/m³, the oxidation rate of NO was 55%. The characterizations of poisoned catalyst are briefly discussed. In Part 2, as the gas passed sequentially through the ozonizing reactor and the absorber (NH₃/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈ solution of 0.8% ammonia and 0.2 mol/L (NH₄)₂S₂O₈), a NO conversion rate of approximately 92.6% and SO₂ conversion rate of 100% were obtained. The pH of the NH₃/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈ solution had a significant impact on the NO conversion. According to the analysis of the composition of products under different pHs, a mechanism of desulfurization and denitrification based on NH₃/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈ solutions was proposed. The reaction product as a compound fertilizer contained up to 24.5% nitrogen.

Radical-induced oxidation removal of multi-air-pollutant: A critical review

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitric oxide (NO) and elemental mercury (Hg⁰) are three common air pollutants in flue gas. SO₂ and NO are the main precursors for chemical smog and Hg⁰ is a bio-toxicant for human. Cooperative removal of multi-air-pollutant in flue gas using radical-induced oxidation reaction is considered as one of the most promising methods due to the high removal efficiency, low cost and less secondary environmental impact. The common radicals used in air pollution control can be classified into four types: (1) hydroxyl radical (OH), (2) sulfate radical (SO₄^-), (3) chlorine-containing radicals (Cl, ClO₂, ClO, HOCl^-, etc.) and (4) ozone. This review summarizes the generation methods and mechanism of the four kinds of radicals, as well as their applications in the removal of multi-air-pollutant in flue gas. The reactivity, selectivity and reaction mechanism of the four kinds of radicals in multi-air-pollutant removal were comprehensively described. Finally, some future research suggestions on the development of new technique for cooperative removal of multi-air-pollutant in flue gas were provided.

Novel Simultaneous Removal Technology of NO and SO2 Using a Semi-Dry Microwave Activation Persulfate System

As it has a simple system and a small floor area, flue gas simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification technology has a good development prospect, and related research has become a hot topic in the field of flue gas purification. In this work, a novel simultaneous removal technology of NO and SO₂ from flue gas using a semi-dry microwave activation persulfate system was developed for the first time. A series of experiments and characterization analyses had been implemented to research the feasibility of this new flue gas purification technology. The oxidation products, free radicals, and mechanism of NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal were revealed. The effect of the main technological parameters on NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal was also studied. Relevant results demonstrated that an increase in the microwave radiation power, persulfate concentration, and O₂ concentration enhanced NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. The increase of NO and SO₂ concentrations weakened NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. The reagent dosage, pH value of the solution, and reaction temperature showed a dual influence on NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. Free-radical capture experiments revealed that both SO₄^-• and ^•OH that were produced by microwave activation of persulfate were the major active species and played very key roles in NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. The main products (sulfate and nitrate) and byproducts (NO₂) in the tail gas were found. The process application and product post-treatment routes were also proposed. The result may provide the necessary inspiration and guidance for the development and application of microwave-activated advanced oxidation technology in the flue gas treatment area.