A comprehensive review of NOx and N2O mitigation from industrial streams

Mitigation of NOx and N2O emissions is a major concern as these substances can cause extensive damages to the atmosphere, soil, water, and humans. Selective catalytic reduction is currently the most effective and widespread technology to remove nitrogen oxides from flue streams. Other methods are also used on a case-by-case basis, most noticeably i) Catalytic decomposition of NOx and N2O, in which nitrogen oxides are decomposed in the absence of other reactants, and ii) selective non-catalytic reduction, which is generally applied when the use of catalytic beds is limited or impossible. Currently, all these technologies suffer limitations, a situation that has led to an interest in the conceptualization and development of new strategies. Electron beam irradiation and electrochemical reduction are some of the most promising prospective technologies, which have the potential to contribute to a rethinking of the state of the art in NOx and N2O mitigation. The current article provides an overview of all these technologies, considering process specifics and the advantages and disadvantages of their implementation.