Biological technologies for nitric oxide abatement
(English) Tackling the widespread challenge of air pollution, particularly the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx), is critical to improving public health and environmental quality in Europe. Annually, air quality-related problems contribute to some premature deaths across Europe, underlining the urg...
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| Tipo de recurso: | tesis doctoral |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/452671 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/452671 https://dx.doi.org/10.5821/dissertation-2117-452671 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | 502 - Natura. Estudi, conservació i protecció de la natura 546 - Química inorgànica Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química |
| Sumario: | (English) Tackling the widespread challenge of air pollution, particularly the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx), is critical to improving public health and environmental quality in Europe. Annually, air quality-related problems contribute to some premature deaths across Europe, underlining the urgent need for effective pollution control strategies. This PhD thesis explores innovative biotechnological processes for NOx removal, focusing on the potential of biological treatments as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to conventional methods. Conducted at the Department of Mining, Industrial Engineering and ICT of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and the Eurecat Water, Air and Soil Technology Unit, this research is part of a collaborative effort to bridge the gap between academic studies and industrial applications. The thesis investigates the effectiveness of ionic liquids (ILs) and non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPs) as mass transfer vectors to enhance nitrogen oxide (NO) solubility and in turn improve NO bioavailability for microbial degradation. These vectors have the potential to revolutionize the design and operation of biological treatment systems of low water-soluble gases by improving their efficiency and scalability. The thesis systematically reviews existing NO control technologies to lay the groundwork for the introduction of bio-based alternatives. It delves into the selection and optimization of materials and methods, with emphasis on experimental designs that facilitate robust and reliable results. By improving mass transfer from the gas to the liquid phase, the research aims to address one of the main limitations faced by current biological treatments when treating hydrophobic gases such as NO. This research was supported by several academic and government grants, reflecting its importance and potential impact. The results are expected to open a door to the study of a new industrial technology, providing a solid scientific basis for further research into new alternatives for gas treatment. |
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