Nitrogen Monoxide Decomposition by Microwave Discharge

Abstract

Microwave discharge in N₂ is known to produce N radicals, which react with NO in the following way:
N + NO → N₂ + O
The discharge was employed in order to study the decomposition of NO gas.
Experimental works were carried out in the two methods:
(I) Gas mixtures(sample gas) containing NO were passed through microwave discharge.
(II) Nitrogen gas was passed through microwave discharge and then mixed with the sample gas.
The measurements were made in a flow system at various pressures, flow rates and microwave output. The effect of additives and temperature on the decomposition of NO was also studied.
Microwave discharge was shown to decompose effectively NO gas in the both methods, I and II. Increase of the microwave output accelerates the decomposition of NO, whereas higher pressures and flow rates retard it. In these experimental conditions temperature shows no effect on the decomposition. Microwave discharge takes place only below certain pressures, which depend on the microwave output and flow rate.
The experimental observations were tentatively interpreted in terms of the production, reaction and quenching of N radicals.