N2O Emission Reduction

Kyoto Protocol - the international treaty on climate change has come into force after it has been ratified by Russia at the end of 2004.
Until ratification of Kyoto Protocol very little attention has been paid to N2O comparing to NOx. N2O arises as an unwanted by-product of ammonia catalytic oxidation during HNO3 production in quantities ranging typically from 350 to 3500ppmv.
Considering one ton of N2O accounts for 310 tons of CO2 equivalent in terms of emissions trading, N2O reduction in tail gas has become high importance issue for HNO3 producers as well as for the entire governments.
N2O contrary to NOx cannot be absorbed from tail gas and therefore new catalytic processes shall be applied.
Nowadays, two feasible processes of N2O destruction exist and both can be provided.

- High temperature (880-930C) catalytic reduction just under platinum gauzes
- Middle temperature (380-450C) catalytic reduction – so called end of technology process

Both processes reduce N2O content in tail gas exceeding overall N2O conversion of 90% thus preparing HNO3 production units for new more stringent regulations on N2O emissions which shall come. This way technology reduces capital investment and expenditures.