Pollutant removal from gaseous and liquid media by radiation technologies

Irradiation with electron beams generated by electron accelerators is a very efficient method for removing SO2 and NOx from industrial flue gases; the pollutants are converted to ammonium sulfate and ammonium sulfate-nitrate. The assets of this approach include the following facts: the two pollutants are removed very efficiently; the process is dry and easy to control; the flue gas need not be pre-heated; the products obtained are fertilizers which can be sold; and the capital investment and running costs can be made reasonably low. A current disadvantage consists in a high energy consumption, constituting 1.7 to 3 % of power plant output. Future efforts should concentrate on reducing the fast electron generation cost, increasing the efficiency of the pollutant removal process, and reducing the dose necessary to purify the medium to a degree complying with applicable pollutant emission standards. (P.A.). 2 figs., 1 tab., 7 refs