Absorption kinetics of nitrogen oxides using sodium chlorite solutions in twin spray columns

NO_Xis a major pollutant that causes acid deposition and photochemical smog. A large amount of NO_Xis emitted from combustion sources such as power plants. As some articles have indicated, NO_Xremoval with NaClO₂solution in an absorption column is an effective control approach. In this approach, first insoluble NO is oxidized into water-soluble NO₂under acidic conditions, then NO₂is removed in alkaline NaClO₂solutions. The results indicate that the reaction rate constant is 9.1×10⁴(L)^4.4/cm⁶/s/mol^2.4in the first absorption column with acidic conditions, and the reaction orders with respect to NO and NaClO₂are 1.4 and 2, respectively. In the second absorption column with alkaline conditions, the reaction rate constant is 3.2×10⁷(L)^5.2/cm⁶/s/mol^3.2and the reaction orders with respect to NO and NaClO₂are 1.6 and 2.5, respectively. The activation energies in the first and second absorption column are 71.8 and 139.6 kJ/mol, respectively.