Control of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions for Nitric Acid Plants

In December of 1971, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its New Source Emission Standards.1 One of the industries controlled by this legislation is the nitric acid industry. The regulation specifies that no more than three pounds of nitrogen oxide can be emitted from a nitric acid plant for each ton of acid produced. This is equivalent, under normal operating conditions, to 208 ppm NOx (106 mg/m3).