Determination of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide in emissions from electric utility plants by alkaline permanganate sampling and ion chromatography

Abstract

A manual 24-h Integrated method for determining S02, NOx, and C02 In emissions from electric utility plants was developed and field tested downstream from an S02 control system. Samples were collected In alkaline potassium permanganate solution contained In restricted-orifice Implngers. S02 Is oxidized to S042" and S2Oe2", and NOx (NO + N02) Is oxidized to N03"; C02 Is converted to C032". Samples were analyzed by Ion chromatography. The method showed 100% collection efficiency for all three pollutants at a sample flow rate of 35 cm3/min and was found to be unbiased relative to Independent monitoring systems. At a flow rate of 75 cm3/ min, the collection efficiency was still 100% for S02 and NOx, but dropped to 80 % for C02. The relative standard deviation for the three determinations was as follows: S02, 0.2-8%; NOx, 3-6%; and C02, 2-8%. Further work Is needed to determine the error In the S02 determination caused by H2S04 absorption.

Collection of NO and NO2 for Isotopic Analysis of NOx Emissions

“…Margeson et al 16 demonstrated that a 0.25 M KMnO 4 and 0.5 M NaOH solution can consistently collect 100% of NO x passed through when using this solution for NO x concentration analysis in power plant stacks. Margeson et al 21 later adjusted the method to use a 0.25 M KMnO 4 and 1.0 M NaOH solution to collect additional acidic gases in solution, but when tested for isotopic analysis of NO x , this solution had a higher NO 3 − background and showed greater variability in isotopic composition.…”

Determination of High Sulfur Dioxide Concentrations and Carbon Dioxide in Electric Utility Plants by Alkaline Permanganate Sampling and Ion Chromatography

“…System calibrations were carried out before, during, and after a sample run, as described earlier. 2 No significant calibration drift was observed. SO 2 and CO2 concentrations were recorded on strip charts and manually reduced to 24-h averages by taking the arithmetic mean of concentrations recorded at 15-min intervals (~95 data points).…”

“…In the first test, sample conditioning was essentially the same as that reported earlier. 2 Samples were extracted with a borosilicate glass probe that was followed by the sample conditioning system and a manifold that served the monitors. A plug of heated quartz wool was used near the probe inlet to remove particulate matter.…”

“…Additional information on these analyses can be obtained from the earlier paper. 2 AP field samples were spiked with SO 4 2~ and CO3 2 -. The recovery of SO 4 2~ and CO 3 2~ was 102.2 ± 3.5 percent, and 99.4 ± 2.9 percent, respectively, for samples from the first field test; the recovery for SO 4 2~ from samples from the second field test was 100.4 ± 0.5 percent.…”

“…An earlier paper 2 showed that alkaline permanganate (AP) sampling with analysis of the sulfur-containing ions by ion chromatography was a reliable method for determining SO2 emissions downstream from an SO2 control system. The SO2 concentration was 50 to 80 ppm.…”