Removal of NO from flue gases by absorption to an iron(ii) thiochelate complex and subsequent reduction to ammonia

THE combustion of fossil fuels generates SO2 and NOX pollutants which cause acid rain and urban smog1. Existing flue-gas desulphurization scrubbers involve wet limestone processes which are efficient for controlling SO2 emissions but are incapable of removing water-insoluble nitric oxide. The current technique for postcombustion control of nitrogen oxide emissions, ammonia-based selective catalytic reduction, suffers from various problems2,3, including poisoning of the catalysts by fly ash rich in arsenic or alkali, disposal of spent toxic catalysts and the effects of ammonia by-products on plant components downstream from the reactor. To circumvent the need for separate schemes to control SO2 and NOX, we have developed an iron(ii) thiochelate complex that enhances the solubility of NO in aqueous solution by rapidly and efficiently absorbing NO to form iron nitrosyl complexes. The bound NO is then converted to ammonia by electrochemical reduction, regenerating the active iron(ii) catalyst for continued NO capture. Our results suggest that this process can be readily integrated into existing wet limestone scrubbers for the simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOX