Toward a green chemistry and engineering solution for the US energy industry:: Reducing emissions and converting waste streams into value-added products

The U.S. electric power utility industry faces environmental challenges due to the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO.) by coal combustion furnaces and the associated increase in byproduct waste streams. This research program focuses on the development of a green chemistry and engineering solution for the U.S. energy industry that can guarantee a long-term source of energy for the 21st century by simultaneously reducing emissions and converting byproduct waste streams into value-added products. This solution combines the installation of low-NO, burners that efficiently reduce NO, emissions coupled with strategies that manage the associated increase in byproduct streams, mainly fly ash and unburned carbon.