Influence of Biochar Composition and Micro-Structure on the Denitration of Flue Gases at High Temperature

Abstract

Biochar materials are good reducers of nitrogen oxides. The composition and structure of biochar affect significantly its ability to reduce C–NO. In order to study the denitration of flue gases by biochar at high temperature, three kinds of biochar (bamboo charcoal (BC), rice husk ash (RHA), and straw charcoal (SC)) were mixed with cement raw meal in a fixed-bed quartz reactor at the temperature of 800–900 °C and O2 concentration of 0.5%–2%. The results showed that the initial denitration rate of BC was higher than that of RHA, and that of SC was the lowest. RHA had the largest specific surface area, and BC the smallest. The elements C, N, and O and the functional groups of the three types of biochar had a greater influence on the denitration rate than their structures. The denitration rate decreased faster as the O/C ratio increased, and the increase in the relative content of the N element induced the formation of nitrogen-containing functional groups catalyzing C–NO reduction. The content of the C–C bond affected directly the rate of denitration, and both (NCO)x and C–O bonds had a positive effect on the reduction capability of biochar. It can be concluded that the composition of biochar has an important effect on the reduction of C–NO.