Nitrogen: Nitrogen oxides & Ammonia

Nitrogen compounds which are harmful to humans and the environment are nitrogen oxides and ammonia.

Nitrogen compounds which are harmful to humans and the environment are nitrogen oxides and ammonia. Nitrogen oxides are compounds of nitrogen and oxygen (NOx) and is a collective name for the nitrogen oxides that are most relevant for air pollution, namely nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). These gases contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain and destroy the tropospheric ozone. NOx gases are generally produced by the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen during combustion of fuels, such as hydrocarbons, in air; especially at high temperatures, such as in car engines. In areas with a lot of motor vehicle traffic, the nitrogen oxides emitted can be a major source of air pollution. If the nitrogen oxides are supplied with rain, we speak of wet deposition. If the soil or plants absorb nitrogen from the air, we speak of dry deposition. 

Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen (NH3). Ammonia has a very pungent odour and is harmful to nature and humans in high concentrations. The gas is mainly released during the application of manure in livestock farming, where nitrogen evaporates. Industry has a very small share in the emission of ammonia. Part of the nitrogen is absorbed by the soil and ends up in the groundwater (nitrate). Too much ammonia in the soil disturbs biodiversity because it enriches the soil with nitrogen, so that plants absorb ammonia. Plants that thrive in nutrient-poor soil die out and grass and nettles take over. Too high concentrations of nitrogen oxides can be harmful to humans because they penetrate deep into the airways, causing the lungs to function less well. The body can respond to this with asthma attacks and respiratory complaints. In general, the ammonia concentration in the outside air will never be so high that these complaints will occur.

The need to capture Nitrogen oxides can be divers:

• Reduction of NOx on a construction site by, for example, filtering the exhaust gases from diesel generators for NOx;
• Overcome odour nuisance;
• Cleaning the intake air of climate installations in offices and buildings to improve the working climate;
• Cleaning the intake air of climate installations of museums and archives to protect cultural inheritance and archive documents;
• Cleaning intake air to protect electronics.

Allsorb is able to apply various techniques for the capture of nitrogen compounds, whereby a distinction must be made between the neutralization of NOx and ammonia. After all, the medium that captures ammonia extremely effectively is not able to remove NOx and vice versa.

Please feel free to contact one of our specialists for further information.