Adsorption and catalytic oxidation of residual NH3 on coal ash after selective non-catalytic reduction in coal-fired boilers

Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) with NH3 as the reducing agent is widely used for the denitrification of flue gas in coal-fired boilers, where fly ash significantly influences the conversion of the residual NH3 that does not participate in denitrification. However, there have been few studies on the exact nature of this influence, particularly the adsorption and reaction mechanisms of NH3 on fly ash. In this study, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) were used to study the mechanisms of NH3 adsorption and reactions over coal ash. In the absence of oxygen, in the temperature range of 50-450 degrees C, NH3 was adsorbed on the surface of the coal ash. The adsorption capacity of lignite ash was higher than that of anthracite ash. This difference was attributed to the large specific surface area and surface acidity of the lignite ash. However, between 450-850 degrees C, coal ash had a catalytic effect on NH3 decomposition and oxidation. Due to the high surface lattice oxygen content of lignite ash, its catalytic oxidative ability was superior to anthracite ash. Moreover, NH3 was first adsorbed over Lewis and Bronsted acid sites on the surface of coal ash and later underwent hydrogen abstraction to produce either the NH2 or the NH intermediate. The intermediates further reacted with the surface lattice oxygen of coal ash to produce NO and N2O. These results might be helpful for the management of NH3 residues from SNCR processes and the utilization of amino reducing agents in coal-fired boilers.