Removal of atmospheric pollutants from gas, related apparatus, processes and uses thereof

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising a single-stage conversion of an atmospheric pollutant, such as NO, NO 2 and/or SO x in a first stream to one or more mineral acids and/or salts thereof by reacting with nonionic gas phase chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 0 ), wherein the reaction is carried out in the gas phase. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method comprising first adjusting the atmospheric pollutant concentrations in a first stream to a molar ratio of about 1:1, and then reacting with an aqueous metal hydroxide solution (MOH). Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus that can be used to carry out the methods disclosed herein. The methods disclosed herein are unexpectedly efficient and cost effective, and can be applied to a stream comprising high concentration and large volume of atmospheric pollutants.

1 . A system for scrubbing a waste gas of at least one of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, comprising:
 an inlet for introducing chlorine dioxide into the reaction vessel;   an inlet for introducing waste gas containing at least one of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides into the reaction vessel;   a reaction vessel, wherein the reaction vessel is equipped with one or more turbulence inducing devices for inducing turbulence in a mixture of the waste gas and the chlorine dioxide; and   at least one sensor positioned in an outlet of the reaction vessel, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least one of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, or temperature in a waste gas stream.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure one or more oxides of sulfur. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure one or more oxides of nitrogen. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , the system further comprising a ClO 2  generator and a ClO 2  sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the ClO 2  generator is configured to receive analog inputs from the nitrogen oxide sensor and the ClO 2  sensor, wherein the analog inputs are used to regulate a rate of generation of ClO 2  by the ClO 2  generator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a ClO 2  delivery system configured to provide a flow rate of ClO 2  to the inlet for introducing ClO 2 , wherein the ClO 2  delivery system is configured to receive an output from the at least one sensor, wherein the ClO 2  delivery system is configured to adjust the flow rate of the ClO 2  to the inlet for introducing ClO 2  based on the output of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: a first stage scrubber upstream from the reaction vessel, wherein waste gas from the first stage, acid fumes, and low or no nitrogen oxides are treated in the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a gas flow sensor in the waste gas stream after the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a first stage scrubber. 
     
     
         10 . A method for scrubbing a waste gas of at least one of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, comprising:
 introducing chlorine dioxide into an inlet of a reaction vessel;   introducing waste gas containing at least one of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides into an inlet of the reaction vessel;   inducing turbulence in a mixture of the waste gas and the chlorine dioxide in the reaction vessel, wherein the turbulence is induced using one or more turbulence inducing devices, and whereby at least one of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are scrubbed; and   measuring at least one of sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, water, or temperature at an outlet of the reaction vessel using at least one sensor positioned at the outlet of the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein sulfur oxide is measured. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein nitrogen oxide is measured. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 generating the chlorine dioxide using a ClO 2  generator; and   measuring chlorine dioxide using a ClO 2  sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving inputs from the nitrogen oxide sensor and the ClO 2  sensor; and   using the inputs to regulate a rate of generation of ClO 2  by the ClO 2  generator.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 scrubbing the waste gas in a first stage scrubber upstream from the reaction vessel; and   treating waste gas from the first stage scrubber, acid fumes, and low or no NO x  in the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 measuring a gas flow in the waste gas, wherein the gas flow is measured using a gas flow sensor in the waste gas stream after the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 scrubbing the waste gas in a first stage scrubber upstream from the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 providing a flow rate of ClO 2  to the inlet for introducing ClO 2  using a ClO 2  delivery system;   receiving an output from the at least one sensor by the ClO 2  delivery system; and   adjusting the flow rate of the ClO 2  to the inlet based on the received output of the at least one sensor.