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N2O abatement refers to the catalytic removal of N2O from the intermediate gas stream between the ammonia reactor and the absorption tower. Existing abatement units routinely achieve N2O removal rates. This N2O abatement technology can thus play a significant role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Nitric acid plants are one of the largest stationary emitters of greenhouse gas—nitrous oxide (N2O). Tightening up the legislation, specifying the permissible level of this gas emission into the atmosphere and high prices of CO2-eq emission allowances, make it highly desirable to find effective solutions to reduce N2O emission from this plant.
In the course of the nitric acid manufacture, N2O is formed as a byproduct of NH3 to NO oxidation, occurring on Pt-Rh gauzes. The amount of formed N2O depends on the conditions of this process, as well as on the catalytic gauze’s efficiency and time of operation in the ammonia oxidation reactor.
The Global N2O Abatement System accounted for $XX Billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2024 to 2030.
Uhde EnviNOx technology for N2O abatement – `Uhde’s NOX and N2O abatement technology has been developed to permit high rates of N2O abatement for tail gas temperatures between 3308C and 6008C. For plants with a cooler tail gas, it is possible to raise the temperature to a suitable level by tail gas preheating.
A large proportion of the world’s nitric acid plants can thus be equipped with Uhde’s N2O abatement technology. Existing abatement units routinely achieve N2O removal rates of 98–99% and above. This N2O abatement technology can thus play a significant role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 which make up NOX have long been known as precursors of acid rain and smog. While ever more stringent emission limits apply in many countries there are still a large number of nitric acid plants which have no NOX abatement equipment installed. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas, being about 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Even though nitric acid plants currently represent the largest single industrial process source of this gas, most countries have not yet imposed emission limits on N2O, although some countries in the EU, such as Germany, have imposed limits for new plants which will also come into force for existing installations in the fairly near future.
