Effects of ethylene on NO conversion and product distributions in an rf discharge reactor.

In the previous study, high concentration of NO in N(2)/O(2) mixtures could be converted mainly into N(2) via a radio-frequency discharge approach at a low pressure (4 kPa). To enhance the efficiency of NO removal, C(2)H(4) was added to elevate significantly the NO conversion in this study. The results showed that at inlet C(2)H(4)/NO molar ratio of 1 and 120 W in the C(2)H(4)/NO (1%)/O(2) (6%)/N(2) mixtures, the NO conversion reached 93.7% with a C(2)H(4) conversion of 100%, to much higher than without C(2)H(4) condition (NO conversion=77.6%). Moreover, as high as 99.8% of the fraction of total N atoms converted from NO into N(2) was achieved. In addition, the relationship between the major active species observed in the optical emission spectra at different inlet C(2)H(4) concentration and the important reactions for NO removal and N(2) formation were discussed.