| abstract |
Methods, devices, and materials are disclosed for efficient high-volume oxidation of SO 2 to SO 3 , for bulk manufacturing rather than exhaust scrubber operations. Activated carbon, with vanadium or other catalytic dopants, is used, and an anhydrous solvent with a low dielectric constant, minimal hydrogen bonding, and potent SO 3 stripping ability is used. Vanadium compounds such as vanadium diformate, and catalyst formulations using metals that can alternate back and forth between +4 and +6 oxidation states (such as tungsten or molybdenum), can increase efficiency. A process that uses hydroxy radicals to initiate a chain reaction that converts SO 2 to SO 3 also is disclosed. |