Narrow Results

A Monte Carlo Simulation study of the monomer dimer (CO–NO) heterogeneous catalytic reaction on body-centered cubic structure (BCC) is presented. The effect of Eley–Rideal (ER), diffusion of nitrogen and carbon monoxide on the phase diagram is investigated. The steady reactive state is observed while using Langmuir–Hinsehelwood (LH) mechanism. Whenever the ER mechanism is included in our simulation, the production of CO₂ starts as soon as y_CO departs from zero, which is consistent with the experimental results. The ER mechanism does not affect the production of N₂. The effect of diffusion of CO and N are found very little on the steady state reactive region where the concentration of CO is very high.

The emissions of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide from internal combustion engines generate a large impact on the environment and on people's health. Catalytic reduction of these species using platinum group metals has already shown significant potential for emissions control. Since catalysts often use carbon monoxide to reduce nitric oxide in these devices, accurate models of their interaction are required to advance catalyst simulations in order to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations. As a result, this paper reviews the literature of the NO–CO reaction over platinum in order to develop more precise detailed and global reaction mechanisms for use in exhaust after-treatment modeling activities. Moreover, it is found that the reaction between NO and CO over platinum yields carbon dioxide and nitrogen as main products and nitrous oxide as an important side product. Hence, this paper additionally describes the mechanism for nitrous oxide production in advance of greenhouse gas regulations.

This paper quantifies the magnitude of multiple potential causes of coal-fired power plant retirements since 1997. The paper finds that although the low natural gas prices from fracking have increased retirements, the foremost cause of retirements has been the tightening of criteria air pollutant regulations. These pollution regulations encouraged significant mitigation investments to reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and small particulate emissions. But the regulations also induced higher coal plant retirement rates which then reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Even accounting for the resulting increase in emissions from new natural gas plants, the regulations eliminated over a billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In this example, strict mitigation to protect domestic public health has led to sizable global co-benefits.