Catalyst-Free Removal of NOx from Combustion Exhausts Using Intense Pulsed Electron Beams

An apparatus for the catalyst-free removal of NOx from combustion exhausts, comprising:

• an electron beam source configured to irradiate a combustion exhaust containing NOx with a plurality of pulsed electron beams as it travels through a reaction chamber, the exhaust gas being free from ammonia or any other catalyst as it travels through the reaction chamber, energy from the electron beams causing the NOx to dissociate into reactive radicals N2+, N+, e, and N2, the radicals combining to form neutral nitrogen N by the reactions N2*→2N, N2++e→2N and N++e→N, and the neutral nitrogen N combining with oxygen O and nitric acid NO from the NOx to form to form nitrogen and oxygen in a three-body reaction N+NO→N2+O and O→O2, the reactions proceeding without any catalyst;
• wherein the electron beam source is configured to turn the electron beam on to cause the NOx to dissociate into the reactive radicals, and to turn the electron beam off during the formation of the neutral N from the reactive radicals and during the formation of the nitrogen N2 and oxygen O2.