Clean Coal by Oxyacidification

Coal has become a controversial fuel due to various pollutants and carbon dioxide generated during combustion. Regulated pollutants include nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides which react with the water vapor in the atmosphere. to form acid rain. Carbon dioxide also reacts with water molecules to form carbonic acid, which gives rise to ocean acidification. This research takes advantage of the acidification tendency of such gaseous pollutants in order to reduce their concentrations. Pollutant molecules in the flue gas are encouraged to combine with water vapor to form droplets of oxyacids which are then separated before the flue gas is discharged into the air.