Formation of nitrogen oxides from fuel-N through HCN and NH3: a model-compound study

The conversion of fuel-nitrogen to HCN and NH3 and to nitrogen oxides was studied with nitrogen-containing model compounds, chosen to represent the main nitrogen and oxygen functionalities in fossil fuels. Two kinds of experiments were performed in an entrained-flow reactor at 800 °C. The conversion of model-compound-N to HCN and NH3 was determined under inert conditions, and the formation of NO, N2O and NO2 was determined under oxidizing conditions. In inert atmosphere, oxygen-containing functional groups had an important effect on the ratio of HCN to NH3. In particular, OH groups bound directly in the ring structure increased the conversion of nitrogen to NH3. In oxidizing atmosphere, the conversions of model-compound-N to N2O were high, but the substituent groups had no well-defined effect on the ratio of N2O to NO. The formation of NO2 was insignificant.