# US 11,305,231 B2 · Pollutant treatment process and apparatus

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- Number: US 11,305,231 B2
- Document ID: US11305231B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/769,158
- Filed: 2018-12-03
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04
- Assignees: Ricardo UK Limited; Ricardo, Inc.
- Applicants: Ricardo UK Limited; Ricardo Inc.
- Inventors: Damodara M. Poojary; Jacques F. Nicole; Matthew Keenan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305231B2

## CPC

- B01D 53/8628: {Processes characterised by a specific catalyst}
- B01D 53/8625: {Nitrogen oxides}
- B01D 53/8668: {Removing organic compounds not provided for in B01D53/8603 - B01D53/8665}
- B01D 53/9409: {Nitrogen oxides}
- B01J 23/745: Iron
- B01J 35/19: {Catalysts containing parts with different compositions}
- B01J 37/0201: {Impregnation}
- B01J 37/0236: {Drying, e.g. preparing a suspension, adding a soluble salt and drying}
- B01J 37/088: {Decomposition of a metal salt}
- C01B 3/40: characterised by the catalyst
- B01D 53/92: of engine exhaust gases (exhaust {or silencing} apparatus {for internal combustion engines, machines or engines in general}, having means for purifying, {rendering innocuous} or otherwise treating exhaust gases F01N3/00)
- B01D 2251/104: Ozone
- B01D 2255/20738: Iron
- B01D 2255/30: Silica
- B01D 2256/16: Hydrogen
- B01D 2257/404: Nitrogen oxides other than dinitrogen oxide
- B01D 2257/702: Hydrocarbons
- B01D 2258/012: Diesel engines and lean burn gasoline engines
- B01D 2258/014: Stoichiometric gasoline engines
- B01D 2258/0283: Flue gases
- C01B 2203/0261: containing a catalytic partial oxidation step [CPO]
- C01B 2203/1047: Group VIII metal catalysts
- C01B 2203/1082: Composition of support materials
- C01B 2203/1235: Hydrocarbons
- C01B 2203/1247: Higher hydrocarbons
- Y02C 20/20: of methane
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]

## Abstract

A process for removing hydrocarbons from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons includes introducing ozone to the feed stream to produce an ozone doped stream containing ozone and hydrocarbons, and contacting the ozone doped stream with a supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. to produce a treated stream, wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises iron supported on a support selected from aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas. A process for removing NOx from a feed stream containing NOx, and an apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and/or NOx from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons and/or NOx are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for removing hydrocarbons and/or NOx from a feed stream containing hydrocarbons and/or NOx, the apparatus comprising:
a source of ozone arranged to introduce ozone to the feed stream to produce an ozone doped stream containing ozone and hydrocarbons and/or NOx;
a supported metal catalyst comprising iron supported on a support selected from aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas;
wherein the apparatus is arranged to contact the ozone doped stream with the supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support of the supported metal catalyst comprises beta zeolite.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is arranged to receive an exhaust stream from a hydrocarbon combustion process or a waste gas stream from an industrial process as at least a portion of the feed stream.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising means for carrying out hydrocarbon combustion and feeding an exhaust stream to the apparatus as at least a portion of the feed stream.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the means for carrying out hydrocarbon combustion comprises a natural gas engine.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the ozone doped stream is contacted with the supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 130° C. to 280° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a flow of the ozone doped stream over the supported metal catalyst continuously for greater than 1 minute.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to contact the ozone doped stream with the supported metal catalyst at a pressure of 10 bar absolute or less.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of ozone comprises an ozone generator configured to generate ozone in situ.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ozone generator comprises a corona discharge ozone generator, a cold plasma ozone generator or a UV ozone generator.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An industrial processing plant comprising the apparatus of claim 1 for reducing emissions of hydrocarbons and/or NOx.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A vehicle comprising the apparatus of claim 1 for reducing emissions of hydrocarbons and/or NOx.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A process for removing methane from a feed stream containing methane using the apparatus of claim 1, the process comprising:
using a source of ozone to generate ozone and introducing the ozone to a feed stream containing methane to produce an ozone doped stream containing ozone and methane; and
contacting the ozone doped stream with a supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 100° C. to 300° C. produce a treated stream;
wherein the supported metal catalyst comprises iron supported on a support selected from aluminosilicates, silica-aluminas, silicates and aluminas.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the ozone doped stream is contacted with the supported metal catalyst at a temperature of from 130° C. to 280° C.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the support of the supported metal catalyst comprises a zeolite support.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the contacting step comprises providing a flow of the ozone doped stream over the supported metal catalyst continuously for greater than 1 minute.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the contacting step is conducted at a pressure of 10 bar absolute or less.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the feed stream comprises an exhaust stream from a natural gas engine.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein the ozone introduced to the feed stream is generated by an ozone generator in situ.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13, wherein water is present in the feed stream or the ozone doped stream in an amount of up to 15% v/v.