Nanocrystalline Materials for Removal of Reduced Sulfur and Nitrogen Compounds from Fuel Gas

Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), which uses a gasifier to convert

coal to fuel gas, and then uses combined cycle power block to generate electricity,

is one of the most promising technologies to meet the challenge of generating

electricity from coal in an environmentally sustainable way.  IGCC has

many advantages over traditional technologies, including:  higher efficiency,

lower pollutant emissions, and a possibility of carbon capture and sequestration.  One

of the remaining challenges for the IGCC is the need to develop a cleanup technology

to remove reduced sulfur and nitrogen compounds from the hot fuel gas at gasification

operating temperatures.

NanoScale Materials, Inc. proposes development of nanocrystalline sorbents

and catalysts for hot gas cleanup technology to allow for removal of reduced

sulfur (H2S and COS) and nitrogen (NH3 and HCN) pollutants from coal-generated

fuel gases at gasification operating temperatures.  This project has a

potential to revolutionize current control methods by providing sorbent and

catalyst materials that are technically superior to existing materials.  Possible

applications of the proposed technology include IGCC plants and other pollution

control systems.  Benefits offered by nanocrystalline sorbents, including

enhanced chemical kinetics and increased removal capacities, have been demonstrated

for many toxic chemicals and pollutants.  Similar effects are expected

for removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds.  The approach proposed by

NanoScale utilizes manufacturing methods that are easily scalable, cost efficient,

and environmentally friendly.

In this project, pollutant removal capacities of various materials will be

evaluated experimentally using a gas mixture that realistically resembles real

fuel gas composition.  The testing will include both laboratory-scale

experiments, as well as pilot-scale demonstrations, in real fuel gas conditions

at the Western Research Institute.  Sorbents and catalysts will be tailored

to selectively react with reduced sulfur and nitrogen compounds present in

fuel gas but will be immune to other components of the fuel gas.  It is

anticipated that the results of this project will clearly demonstrate the advantage

of using nanocrystalline materials for hot fuel gas cleanup and the feasibility

of the NanoScale approach.  In addition, the most promising sorbents and

catalysts will be identified, allowing for their further development and optimization

in the Phase II effort.

NanoScale is uniquely qualified for the proposed development because it is

a leader in the field of reactive nanocrystalline materials.  NanoScale

products have demonstrated high effectiveness against numerous toxic chemicals,

including the fuel gas pollutants mercury and hydrogen sulfide.