Gas-phase advanced oxidation as an integrated air pollution control technique

Getachew A. Adnew; Carl Meusinger; Nicolai Bork; Michael Gallus; Mildrid Kyte; Vitalijs Rodins; Thomas Rosenørn; Matthew S. Johnson; Getachew A. Adnew; Carl Meusinger; Nicolai Bork; Michael Gallus; Mildrid Kyte; Vitalijs Rodins; Thomas Rosenørn; Matthew S. Johnson

doi:10.3934/environsci.2016.1.141

AIMS Environmental Science

2016, Volume 3, Issue 1: 141-158. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2016.1.141

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Gas-phase advanced oxidation as an integrated air pollution control technique

1.
Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
2.
Infuser ApS, Ole Maaløes vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
3.
Rīga Stradiņš University, 16 Dzirciema Street, Rīga, LV-1007, Latvia
4.
Airlabs, Ole Maaløes vej 3, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark

Received: 21 January 2016 Accepted: 21 March 2016 Published: 28 March 2016

Gas-phase advanced oxidation (GPAO) is an emerging air cleaning technology based on the natural self-cleaning processes that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere. The technology uses ozone, UV-C lamps and water vapor to generate gas-phase hydroxyl radicals that initiate oxidation of a wide range of pollutants. In this study four types of GPAO systems are presented: a laboratory scale prototype, a shipping container prototype, a modular prototype, and commercial scale GPAO installations. The GPAO systems treat volatile organic compounds, reduced sulfur compounds, amines, ozone, nitrogen oxides, particles and odor. While the method covers a wide range of pollutants, effective treatment becomes difficult when temperature is outside the range of 0 to 80 °C, for anoxic gas streams and for pollution loads exceeding ca. 1000 ppm. Air residence time in the system and the rate of reaction of a given pollutant with hydroxyl radicals determine the removal efficiency of GPAO. For gas phase compounds and odors including VOCs (e.g. C₆H₆ and C₃H₈) and reduced sulfur compounds (e.g. H₂S and CH₃SH), removal efficiencies exceed 80%. The method is energy efficient relative to many established technologies and is applicable to pollutants emitted from diverse sources including food processing, foundries, water treatment, biofuel generation, and petrochemical industries.
- Gas-phase advanced oxidation,
- emissions control,
- VOCs,
- reduced sulfur compounds,
- amines
Citation: Getachew A. Adnew, Carl Meusinger, Nicolai Bork, Michael Gallus, Mildrid Kyte, Vitalijs Rodins, Thomas Rosenørn, Matthew S. Johnson. Gas-phase advanced oxidation as an integrated air pollution control technique[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2016, 3(1): 141-158. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2016.1.141

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Abstract

Gas-phase advanced oxidation (GPAO) is an emerging air cleaning technology based on the natural self-cleaning processes that occur in the Earth’s atmosphere. The technology uses ozone, UV-C lamps and water vapor to generate gas-phase hydroxyl radicals that initiate oxidation of a wide range of pollutants. In this study four types of GPAO systems are presented: a laboratory scale prototype, a shipping container prototype, a modular prototype, and commercial scale GPAO installations. The GPAO systems treat volatile organic compounds, reduced sulfur compounds, amines, ozone, nitrogen oxides, particles and odor. While the method covers a wide range of pollutants, effective treatment becomes difficult when temperature is outside the range of 0 to 80 °C, for anoxic gas streams and for pollution loads exceeding ca. 1000 ppm. Air residence time in the system and the rate of reaction of a given pollutant with hydroxyl radicals determine the removal efficiency of GPAO. For gas phase compounds and odors including VOCs (e.g. C₆H₆ and C₃H₈) and reduced sulfur compounds (e.g. H₂S and CH₃SH), removal efficiencies exceed 80%. The method is energy efficient relative to many established technologies and is applicable to pollutants emitted from diverse sources including food processing, foundries, water treatment, biofuel generation, and petrochemical industries.

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