Hideki Namba, Shoji Hashimoto, Okihiro Tokunaga and Ryoji Suzuki
Department of Radiation Research for Environment and Resources, Takasaki Radiation Chemistry Research Establishment, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1233 Watanuki-machi, Takasaki, Gunma 370-12 Japan
Herein more detail on how both Sulfur, and Nitrogen Oxides - another greenhouse gas culprit, can be recovered from the flue gasses of coal utilization facilities through the use of "Flash Gordon"-sounding technology that's really not much removed from the microwave oven in your kitchen, or the picture tube on your TV. It is, in a way, just high intensity "radar".
The excerpt:
"Abstract
Experiments were carried out to investigate the removals of SO2 and NOx2 (4800 ppm), NO (320 ppm) and H2O (22%) by electron beam irradiation. Removal efficiencies of SO2 and NOx were achieved to reach 97 and 88% at 70°C, and 74 and 85% at 80°C, respectively, with the dose of 10.3 kGy without NH3 leakage. The higher removal efficiencies of SO2 and NOx were observed in simulated lignite-burning flue gas than in coal-fired flue gas containing 800 ppm of SO2, 225 ppm of NO and 7.5% H2O at the same treatment condition. The higher removal efficiencies were attributed to the higher concentrations of SO2, H2O, and added NH3. Simulation calculations indicated that the higher concentrations of these components enhance the effective radical reactions to oxidize NO to form NO2 with HO2 radical, and to oxidize SO2 to form SO32. The reactions of NOx with N and NH2 radicals to produce N2 and N2O also promote the NOx removal. By-product was determined to be the mixture of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 containing a small amount of H2SO4." from simulated lignite-burning flue gas containing SO with OH radical and O
As we would understand this, the dirtier the flue gas, the better. The N(2) by-product is just fine - that's what our atmosphere is mostly composed of to begin with. The "NH" compounds are fertilizers. And, H2SO4, sulfuric acid, would have useful, commercial industrial applications if the quantities produced are sufficient.
Again, the full implementation of our coal resources, whether we employ them to generate power or to synthesize liquid fuels and chemicals, generates valuable by-products, not pollutants.