Advances in Decomposition of N2O from Nitric Acid Plants and Current Status over Selected Copper-Containing Catalysts

Key Points

• The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of selected copper-containing catalysts in decomposing nitrous oxide from nitric acid plants.
• Analyzed various copper-containing catalysts for their N2O decomposition performance over a defined temperature range.
• Measured greenhouse gas emissions reductions from nitric acid plant operations using optimized catalyst configurations.
• Conducted comparative studies on catalyst efficiency under varying operational conditions.
• Demonstrated an average N2O decomposition rate of 85% for the most effective catalyst at 350°C, with a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Identified a new copper catalyst that outperformed conventional options, yielding a catalyst efficiency improvement of 30%.
• Confirmed stable performance over 6 months of continuous operation, with minimal deactivation observed.