Interaction between NO and SO2 removal processes in a pulsed corona discharge plasma (PCDP) reactor and the mechanism.

Highlights • Interaction between De-NO and De-SO 2 in a PCDP reactor is investigated. • De-NO and De-SO 2 compete each other in a PCDP reactor with the former prevailing. • The interaction involves inter-reactions and competing reactions for active radicals. • The mechanism describing the interaction is proposed and verified. Abstract The interaction between De-NO and De-SO 2 from flue gas in a pulsed corona discharge plasma (PCDP) reactor was studied experimentally. A mechanism and kinetic scheme of De-NO and De-SO 2 inside the PCDP reactor has been proposed and verified by comparison of the simulated and experimental results. The dominant radicals and elementary reactions are confirmed through sensitivity analysis. It has been found that there is significant interaction between the De-NO and De-SO 2 processes in a PCDP reactor, and that the De-NO reactions prevail over the De-SO 2 ones. The interaction consists of competitive reactions between NO and SO 2 involving oxidative radicals, as well as interaction reactions between NO, SO 2 and their derivatives. Through sensitivity analysis it has been found that the most effective elemental reaction to De-NO is NO + HO 2 <=> OH + NO 2 and that the most helpful radical is HO 2. The most effective reaction for De-SO 2 is SO 2 + O <=> SO 3 and the most helpful radical is atomic O. The study reveals the interaction mechanism between De-NO and De-SO 2 in PCDP and provides a theoretical basis to improve the performance of simultaneous NO and SO 2 abatement in a PCDP reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]