Abstract: Methods related generally to the removal of atmospheric pollutants from the gas phase, are provided, as well as related apparatus, processes and uses thereof. A single-stage air scrubbing apparatus is provided that includes at least one reaction vessel, at least one introduction duct, and a turbulence component, wherein a residence time is sufficient to allow the conversion of at least one atmospheric pollution compound to at least one other compound, molecule or atom. In some embodiments, the at least one atmospheric pollution compound comprises nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide or a combination thereof. Additionally, methods of removing atmospheric pollution compounds from a waste gas stream are disclosed that include introducing a waste gas stream and at least one additional gas stream, mist stream, liquid stream or combination thereof into a single-stage air scrubbing apparatus at a flow rate sufficient to allow for conversion of the at least one atmospheric pollution compound.

Abstract: A flue gas desulfurization process and system that utilize ammonia as a reactant, and in which any hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans within the ammonia are separated during the desulfurization process so as to prevent their release into the atmosphere. The process and system entail absorbing acidic gases from a flue gas with a scrubbing media containing ammonium sulfate to produce a stream of scrubbed flue gas, collecting the scrubbing media containing the absorbed acidic gases, injecting into the collected scrubbing media a source of ammonia that is laden with hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans so that the injected ammonia is absorbed into and reacted with the collected scrubbing media, stripping the hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans from the collected scrubbing media by causing the hydrogen sulfide and/or mercaptans to exit the collected scrubbing media as stripped gases, and collecting the stripped gases without allowing the stripped gases to enter the stream of scrubbed flue gas.

Abstract: An in-situ forced oxidation wet flue gas desulfurization apparatus, method and arrangement for utilization with oxy-fuel combustion power plants. The apparatus is a tower-like structure having a flue gas scrubbing zone and a reaction zone located subjacent to the gas scrubbing zone. A sulfur oxide absorbing liquid slurry is supplied to the gas scrubbing zone to react with and scrub the sulfur oxides from the flue gas. The partially reacted liquid slurry reagent and the scrubbed products drain into the reaction zone, rising to a set level. Oxidation air is introduced into the liquid slurry in the reaction zone to force the in-situ oxidation of sulfur compounds collected in the reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for removing contaminants from a gas stream by feeding the gas stream into a scrubber that can use seawater as the scrubbing medium. The gas stream is first scrubbed with the seawater and then mixed with ozone to remove the contaminants. Nitrogen oxides that are present in the gas stream are converted to nitric acid/nitrates and these are recovered via condensate or coalesced mist for neutralization. The treated gas stream is then exhausted to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for managing sulfur are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprise the following: obtaining material containing sulfur; refining the material to develop a high sulfur content heavy fraction fuel oil and a low sulfur content light fraction fuel oil; burning the low sulfur content light fraction fuel oil in apparatus that emit to the atmosphere; burning the high sulfur content heavy fraction fuel oil to produce energy thereby generating flue gas containing sulfur oxide; and removing and disposing of sulfur in the flue gas using a sulfur sequestration system that includes utilizing sulfur removed from the flue gas to form a brine material.

Abstract: Production brines are used to scrub a horizontal stack receiving exhaust from an energy source, controlling, reducing, or both noxious chemicals. Mutual remediation of flows from petroleous production cool and scrub exhausts from flares burning waste hydrocarbons, heaters lowering viscosity of crude oil, engines driving oil pumps or natural gas compressors, and the like. Resulting evaporation of production brines results in distilled water, more concentrated brines to reduce hauling, or, optionally, dehydrated dry waste minerals from the brines. Year-round operation of brine evaporation ponds is facilitated, and may be another source of process pre-heating.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing acidic gases from flue gases produced by, for example, utility and industrial facilities. The acidic gases are removed as the flue gas flows upward through a contact zone within a passage, where the flue gas is contacted with an ammonium sulfate-containing scrubbing solution to absorb the acidic gases from the flue gas. The scrubbing solution and absorbed acidic gases therein are then accumulated, and ammonia and an oxygen-containing gas are injected into the accumulated scrubbing solution to react the absorbed acidic gases and produce ammonium sulfate. An acid solution is flowed across the passage above the contact zone of the passage, and the scrubbed flue gas is flowed upward through the acid solution to remove unreacted ammonia from the scrubbed flue gas. The acid solution is then removed from the passage after the acid solution has been contacted by the scrubbed flue gas.

Abstract: A process for desulfurizing an SO2-comprising gaseous stream comprising the steps of: a. providing an aqueous feed comprising an anion selected from a group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide, sulfite, and hydrogen sulfite; b. providing an SO2-comprising gaseous feed; and c. contacting the aqueous feed and the gaseous feed to generate a desulfurized gaseous product comprising less than 40% of the feed SO2 content, and an aqueous product; wherein the contacting is carried out in a cyclone unit comprising a housing defined by a cylindrical peripheral wall and provided with at least one inlet opening for receiving fluids thereinto and with at least one swirling means, and wherein the cyclone unit is characterized in that the velocity of the gaseous stream inside the cyclone unit is between 20 m/sec and 120 m/sec.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the integration of a water splitting process with the production of fertilizer precursors such as ammonia, nitric acid, and sulfuric acid are provided. At least one of heat and electricity from a power plant are used to split water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. Nitrogen gas is provided by air separation. The hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas are used to produce ammonia. The ammonia and oxygen gas are used to produce nitric acid. The oxygen gas, water, and sulfur are used to produce sulfuric acid. Further disclosed is an apparatus for the production of nitric acid comprising a power plant and an apparatus for the production of nitric acid. Also disclosed is an apparatus for the production of sulfuric acid comprising a power plant and an apparatus for the production of sulfuric acid.

Abstract: SO2 and/or NOx are removed from gaseous CO2 at elevated pressure(s) in the presence of molecular oxygen and water and, when SO2 is to be removed, NOx, to convert SO2 to sulfuric acid and/or NOx to nitric acid. The sulfuric acid and/or nitric acid is/are then removed from the gaseous carbon dioxide to produce SO2-free, NOx-lean carbon dioxide gas. The invention has particular application in the removal of SO2 and/or NOx from carbon dioxide flue gas produced in an oxyfuel combustion process, for example, in a pulverized coal fired power station.

Abstract: A new method for the removal of environmental compounds from gaseous streams, in particular, flue gas streams. The new method involves first oxidizing some or all of the acid anhydrides contained in the gas stream such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to sulfur trioxide (SO3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The gas stream is subsequently treated with aqua ammonia or ammonium hydroxide which captures the compounds via chemical absorption through acid-base or neutralization reactions. The products of the reactions can be collected as slurries, dewatered, and dried for use as fertilizers, or once the slurries have been dewatered, used directly as fertilizers. The ammonium hydroxide can be regenerated and recycled for use via thermal decomposition of ammonium bicarbonate, one of the products formed. There are alternative embodiments which entail stoichiometric scrubbing of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides with subsequent separate scrubbing of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method of scrubbing lower mass sulfides with a sulfide scrubbing medium capable of regeneration. The sequential order of gas flow through three vessels is altered. A first of the three vessels is maintained in a scrubbing mode, scrubbing to breakthrough sulphur from the gas that passes through it. A second of the three vessels is maintained in a conditioning mode. Sulfide scrubbing medium in the vessel removes any residue of sulphur from the gas while being conditioned by such limited exposure to sulphur. A third of the three vessels is maintained in a regeneration mode. Saturated sulfide scrubbing medium in the vessel removes excess oxygen from the gas while being regenerated by such exposure to oxygen.

Abstract: A gas refining method for adsorbing a reducing gas obtained by pressure gasification of coal or oil comprises introducing a reducing gas stream into an adsorbing and removing zone where it contacts an adsorbent. Sulfur-containing compounds are adsorbed onto the adsorbent and a first oxygen-containing gas stream is introduced into the adsorbing and removing zone in order to form a regeneration gas containing sulfur dioxide. The regeneration gas is contacted with a second oxygen-containing stream and a calcium-containing liquid slurry to effect absorption of sulfur dioxide by the slurry and precipitation of a gypsum compound. The temperature of the slurry is varied to cause selective precipitation of 60 -gypsum hemihydrate or gypsum dihydrate.

Abstract: A method for removing acidic gases from waste gases is disclosed. The invention relates to a method for removing acid gases, in particular from SO2 and NOx, by contacting the waste gas with an emulsion of water in organic sulfoxides, in particular of water in oil-derived-sulfoxides. The organic sulfoxide phase can be regenerated after the emulsion is loaded with polluants, by letting the emulsion to settle down and separate into two phases. The aqueous phase obtained after the separation contains sulfate and nitrate ions which can be collected and used as valuable chemicals.

Abstract: A flue gas mixture containing sulfur oxides is scrubbed in a countercurrent spray tower absorber with a spray of ammonium sulfate liquor and the scrubbed gas stream containing ammonia aerosols, sulfur trioxide aerosols and ammonia slip is passed to a wet electrostatic precipitator for the removal of the aerosols and slip. The ammonium sulfate liquor in the absorber system is passed into a separate reaction tank where ammonia and air are injected. The ammonia and sulfur oxides react in the separate reaction tank to form ammonium sulfite which is oxidized to the sulfate by the air. The gases and vapors from the separate reaction tank are separately scrubbed and the gases then returned to the absorber.

Abstract: Malodorous gases such as amines, organosulfur compounds, hydrogen sulfide, styrene and aldehydes are economically and efficiently treated at ambient temperature and pressure by a catalytic absorption and oxidation process comprising: (a) bringing the malodorous gases into contact with a scrubbing water containing a heterogeneous catalyst to absorb the malodorous components catalytically, and (b) subjecting the resulting solution containing the malodorous components to a catalytic oxidation by contacting it with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, ozone, oxygen, air, nitrogen oxides, and NaOCl in the presence of the catalyst at a temperature ranging from 0 to 100 □ under an ambient pressure, the heterogeneous catalyst comprising an active metal element selected from alkali, alkaline earth and transition metals, and an oxide support material.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for removing acidic gases, such as sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride, from flue gases produced by processing operations of the type carried out in utility and industrial plants. The apparatus is generally a gas-liquid contactor whose operation uses an ammonium sulfate-containing scrubbing solution to absorb acidic gases from flue gases, and into which oxygen and ammonia are then injected to react with the absorbed sulfur dioxide to produce ammonium sulfate as a valuable byproduct. The oxygen and ammonia are not introduced together into the scrubbing solution, but instead are introduced sequentially and in a manner so that the oxidation first occurs in a relatively low pH solution as a result of the absorbed acidic gases. The ammonia is then added to the solution in a manner that inhibits or prevents intermixing of the ammonia with the majority of the solution, but is present in the solution when recycled for further absorption of acidic gases.