Decontamination of exhaust gases from underground engines - by contacting with catalyst and scrubbing soln.

摘要

Removal of pollutants from the exhaust gases from IC (esp. diesel) engines used in underground mining or tunneling operations is carried out by passing the gases through a dry bed of Cu/Mn oxide catalyst and then scrubbing with an aq. soln. contg. an alkali metal carbonate and mono- and/or polybasic carboxylic acid salts. The catalyst is pref. supported on a refractory glass- or ceramic-fibre filter material for removal of soot. Scrubbing is pref. effected by passing the gas through a horizontal chamber equipped with a series of baffles forcing the gas to pass through the scrubbing soln. The catalyst converts CO, NO and hydrocarbons to harmless products (CO2, N2, O2, H2O) and scrubbing removes NO2, SO2 and SO3.