Abstract
In the present study, a systematic chemical kinetic calculations were made to investigate the augmentation of $NO-NO_2$ conversion due to the addition of various hydrocarbons (methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane) in the nonthermal plasma treatment. It is included in the present conclusion that the reaction between hydrocarbon and oxygen radicals induced by electron collision, is believed to be a primarily process for triggering the overall NO oxidation and the eventual NOx reduction. Upon the completion of the initiating step, various radicals (OH, $HO_2$ etc.) successively are produced by hydrocarbon decomposition form the primary path of $NO-NO_2$ conversion. When the initiating step is not activated, hydrocarbon consumption rate appeared to be very low, thereby the targeted level of NO conversion can only be achieved by the addition of more input energy. Present study showed ethylene and propylene to have higher affinity with O radical under all conditions, thereby both of these hydrocarbons show very fast and efficient $NO-NO_2$ oxidation. It was also shown that propylene is superior to ethylene in the aspect of NOx removal.
