Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “SULFURIC ACID”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

L 98-59: A Benchmark System of Small Planets for Future Atmospheric Characterization

The M3V dwarf star L 98-59 hosts three small (R < 1.6 R {sub ⊕}) planets. The host star is bright (K = 7.1) and nearby (10.6 pc), making the system a prime target for follow-up characterization with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Herein, we use simulated transmission spectroscopy to evaluate the detectability of spectral features with HST and JWST assuming diverse atmospheric scenarios (e.g., atmospheres dominated by H{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O, CO{sub 2}, or O{sub 2}). We find that H{sub 2}O and CH{sub 4} present in a low mean molecular weight atmosphere could be detected with HST in one transit for the two outermost planets, while H{sub 2}O in a clear steam atmosphere could be detected in six transits or fewer with HST for all three planets. We predict that observations using JWST/NIRISS would be capable of detecting a clear steam atmosphere in one transit for each planet and H{sub 2}O absorption in a hazy steam atmosphere in two transits or less. In a clear, desiccated atmosphere, O{sub 2} absorption may be detectable for all three planets with NIRISS. If the L 98-59 planets possess a clear, Venus-like atmosphere, NIRSpec could detect CO{sub 2} within 26 transits for each planet, but the presence of H{sub 2}SO{sub 4} clouds would significantly suppress CO{sub 2} absorption. The L 98-59 system is an excellent laboratory for comparative planetary studies of transiting multiplanet systems, and observations of the system via HST and JWST would present a unique opportunity to test the accuracy of the models presented in this study.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluation of UKESM aerosol size and composition using ATom measurements indicates missing marine aerosol formation mechanisms

Atmospheric aerosols influence climate through their interactions with radiation and clouds, yet large uncertainties remain in their simulation by global models. This study evaluates the United Kingdom Earth System Model version 1.1 (UKESM1.1) using global-scale aircraft observations from the Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) mission, focusing on aerosol lifecycle processes in the remote marine atmosphere. We assess model performance in simulating aerosol precursor vapours, number size distributions, chemical composition, and environmental conditions. Several process improvements are tested, including sulfuric acid-ammonia nucleation, ammonium nitrate scheme, methanesulfonic acid condensation, and low-temperature isoprene-derived secondary organic aerosol formation. Model biases differ significantly between the upper troposphere (UT) and the marine boundary layer (MBL). In the UT, UKESM1.1 overestimates nucleation and Aitken mode particles while underestimating accumulation mode, indicating insufficient growth. In the MBL, the model overestimates primary aerosols (e.g. seasalt) and precursor gases but underestimates nucleation and Aitken mode particles, even after incorporating updated nucleation and ammonium nitrate scheme. The persistence of low aerosol number concentrations, despite overestimated precursors, suggests missing formation pathways likely involving other species such as iodine, amines, and organic vapours. These limitations result in an unbalanced cloud condensation nuclei budget that over-relies on primary emissions. Sensitivity tests reveal that model outputs are strongly influenced by dimethyl sulfide emissions and vapour condensation schemes. Our results highlight the need for future model development to prioritise mechanistic representation of currently missing aerosol sources, rather than relying on empirical tuning, to improve aerosol-climate interaction estimates.

He, Xu-Cheng [Univ. of Cambridge (United Kingdom);↗
DOE OSTI2021

SO3/H2SO4 continuous real-time sensor demonstration at a power plant

We present results from field testing of a new, innovative sensor developed to measure SO3/H2SO4 continuously and in real time at a coal-fired power plant. The system utilizes the sensitivity, specificity, and real-time capabilities of mid-infrared (Mid-IR) laser-based sensor technology, along with a heated, close-coupled cell mounted directly to a power plant duct. Measurements were made by the laser sensor over a 2-day period and compared to results from the accepted method, EPA 8A, which requires a 30-minute collection, labor intensive processing, and off-site analysis at a lab. In contrast to the condensation method, the laser sensor continuously samples flue gas and reports measurements of the concentration of SO3/H2SO4, SO2 ever second with unattended operation. This initial demonstration proved the sensor concept and paves the way for its use for optimizing sorbent injection used to neutralize SO3/H2SO4. Optimized sorbent injection will enable significant cost savings associated with efforts to mitigate the presence and effects of SO3/H2SO4 such as “Blue Plume”, air heater fouling, and duct corrosion. In particular, the real-time, actionable information will enable better control of additive injection in flex conditions and variable fuels.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thermally stable porous catalyst systems and methods to produce the same

This disclosure provides compositions and methods directed to thermally stable catalyst systems, which display stable physical properties and/or stable catalytic properties after thermal pretreatment at a temperature in the range of about 600° C. to about 1000° C. The catalyst systems include metal particles which contain a stable metal and a catalytic metal deposited on a porous support. Embodiments of the disclosure include catalyst systems that can be used in high temperature applications such as the hybrid sulfur cycle. The hybrid sulfur cyclic is an elevated temperature and high acid reaction that may be conducted using concentrated sulfuric acid heated to 800° C. Embodiments of the disclosure can provide thermally stable catalysts and methods to produce thermally stable catalysts that remain active for at least 80 hours' exposure to these harsh conditions.

Monnier, John↗
DOE OSTI2020

A High-Rate Aqueous Proton Battery Delivering Power Below -78 °C via an Unfrozen Phosphoric Acid

Lithium-sulfur batteries are attractive for automobile and grid applications due to their high theoretical energy density and the abundance of sulfur. Despite the significant progress in cathode development, lithium metal degradation and the polysulfide shuttle remain two critical challenges in the practical application of Li-S batteries. Development of advanced electrolytes has become a promising strategy to simultaneously suppress lithium dendrite formation and prevent polysulfide dissolution. Here, a new class of concentrated siloxane-based electrolytes, demonstrating significantly improved performance over the widely investigated ether-based electrolytes are reported in terms of stabilizing the sulfur cathode and Li metal anode as well as minimizing flammability. Through a combination of experimental and computational investigation, it is found that siloxane solvents can effectively regulate a hidden solvation-ion-exchange process in the concentrated electrolytes that results from the interactions between cations/anions and solvents. As a result, it could invoke a quasi-solid-solid lithiation and enable reversible Li plating/stripping and robust solid-electrolyte interphase chemistries. The solvation-ion-exchange process in the concentrated electrolytes is a key factor in understanding and designing electrolytes for other high-energy lithium metal batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Chemical Composition and Mixing State of Wintertime Aerosol from the European Arctic Site of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

The Arctic is rapidly warming, and aerosols play an increasingly important role by scattering and absorbing sunlight and by participating in cloud formation. Their optical and cloud-forming properties depend on the mixing state and chemical composition, but observations of these features remain limited. This study comprehensively characterizes 25,254 individual particles collected at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (November −December 2020), using microspectroscopy techniques to investigate their size, morphology, mixing state, and chemical composition. Fresh sea salt aerosols (SSA) were identified as the most abundant (∼85%), of the total observed aerosol population, with potential sources from sea spray and blowing snow. Air masses originating from the Arctic Ocean surrounding Svalbard likely contribute to increased concentrations of sub-micrometer “Fresh SSA” particles. “Aged SSA” particles (7.4%) are enriched in sulfur and nitrogen, compared to “Fresh SSA”. These elevated ratios may result from various atmospheric aging processes including the uptake of sulfuric and nitric acids. Here, our results suggest that aged SSA, with sizes larger than 300 nm, likely underwent chlorine depletion by sulfuric and nitric acids during transport. Additionally, elemental analysis reveals that both fresh and aged SSA can mix with dust particles, regardless of the SSA size (49.9% in sub-micrometer size and 50.1% in super-micrometer size, respectively). Dust particles are efficient ice-nucleating particles (INPs), and SSA is known to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and therefore, their mixtures may inherit both properties. The non-negligible number (4.4%) of SSA-dust mixtures underscores the importance of these particles as potential sources of CCN and INP in the Arctic atmosphere.

Arctic↗
DOE OSTI2023

Estimating source-sink distributions and fluxes of reactive nitrogen and sulfur within a mixed forest canopy

The vertical source-sink distribution of air pollutants within and above forested canopies is necessary for describing the biological, physical, and chemical processes influencing the soil-vegetation-atmosphere exchange. Here, this study implemented inverse modeling methods to estimate the source-sink and flux profiles of reactive nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) compounds from measurements of the mean concentration profiles of ammonia (NH 3 ), nitric acid (HNO 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), and particulate ammonium (NH 4 + ), nitrate (NO 3 − ), and sulfate (SO 4 2− ) at a forest site in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Three inverse approaches utilizing different approximations to scalar transport within the canopy were developed and evaluated against sensible heat flux measurements. The Eulerian model (EUL), which incorporates vertical velocity skewness, performed well in reproducing the turbulent heat fluxes and was subsequently used to calculate the chemical source-sink and flux profiles. Above-canopy fluxes of NH 3 were downward, indicating that the forest was a net sink of NH 3 . The soil/litter layer was both a source and a sink for NH 3 but the exchange rate at the forest floor was small. Fluxes of HNO 3 , SO 2 , NO 3 − , NH 4 + , and SO 4 2- were uni-directional (deposition only) between the air and the canopy/ground and increased monotonically from the forest floor to the canopy top. Crown foliage dominated the uptake of reactive N and S during the growing season, accounting for 80–90% of the total canopy-scale flux. Fluxes and canopy-ground partitioning estimated using the resistance-based Surface Tiled Aerosol and Gas Exchange (STAGE) model were generally comparable to EUL. The comparison highlights the need for improved parameterizations of litter exchange and NH 3 compensation points in resistance models for forest ecosystems. The findings here benefit the application of critical loads in forest ecosystems and guide further development of resistance-based exchange models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Microbial sulfate reduction and organic sulfur formation in sinking marine particles

Climate change is driving an expansion of marine oxygen-deficient zones, which may alter the global cycles of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and trace metals. Currently, however, we lack a full mechanistic understanding of how oxygen deficiency affects organic carbon cycling and burial. In this work, we show that cryptic microbial sulfate reduction occurs in sinking particles from the eastern tropical North Pacific oxygen-deficient zone and that some microbially produced sulfide reacts rapidly to form organic sulfur that is resistant to acid hydrolysis. Particle-hosted sulfurization could enhance carbon preservation in sediments underlying oxygen-deficient water columns and serve as a stabilizing feedback between expanding anoxic zones and atmospheric carbon dioxide. A similar mechanism may help explain more-extreme instances of organic carbon preservation associated with marine anoxia in Earth history.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Selective sulfur removal from semi-dry flue gas desulfurization coal fly ash for concrete and carbon dioxide capture applications

High-sulfur mixed fly ash residues from semi-dry flue gas desulfurization units in coal-fired power plants are unsuitable for use as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) for concrete production or carbon dioxide utilization. In this work, we explore the potential for upcycling a representative spray dry absorber ash (10.44 wt% SO 3 ) into concrete-SCM by selective sulfur removal via weak acid dissolution while simultaneously exploring the possibility for CO 2 capture. Towards this effort, parametric studies varying liquid-to-solid ratio, acidity, and CO 2 pressure were conducted in a batch reactor to establish the sulfur removal characteristics in de-ionized water, nitric acid, and carbonic acid, respectively. The dissolution studies show that the leaching of sulfur from calcium sulfite hemihydrate, which is the predominant S phase, is rapid and achieves a concentration plateau within 5 min, and subsequently, appears to be controlled by the primary mineral solubility. Here, preferential S removal was sufficient to meet SCM standards (e.g., 5.0 wt% as per ASTM C618) using all three washing solutions with 0.62–0.72 selectivity (S^), defined as the molar ratio of S to Ca in the leachate, for a raw fly ash with bulk S^ = 0.3. Acid dissolution with 1.43 meq/g of ash or under 5 atm CO 2 retained > 18 wt% CaO and other Si-, Al-rich phases in the fly ash. Based on the experimental findings, two sulfur removal schemes were suggested for either integration with CO 2 capture and utilization processes using flue gas or to produce fly ash for use as a SCM.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2025

Two novel Patescibacteria: Phycocordibacter aenigmaticus gen. nov. sp. nov. and Minusculum obligatum gen. nov. sp. nov., both associated with microalgae optimized for carbon dioxide sequestration from flue gas

The functional roles of bacterial symbionts associated with microalgae remain understudied despite the importance of microalgae in biotechnology and environmental microbiology. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to analyze bacterial communities associated with two microalgae optimized for growth with flue gas containing 5%–10% CO 2 . Two dominant bacteria with no taxonomic classification beyond the class level (Paceibacteria) were discovered repeatedly in the most productive algal cultures. Long-read metagenomic sequencing was conducted to yield high-quality metagenomes, from which two novel species were discovered under the Seqcode (seqco.de/r:ywe1blo2), Phycocordibacter aenigmaticus gen. nov. sp. nov. and Minusculum obligatum gen. nov. sp. nov. The genus Phycocordibacter gen. nov. was proposed as the nomenclatural type of the family Phycocordibacteraceae fam. nov. and the order Phycocordibacterales ord. nov. Both bacteria possessed features typical of Patescibacteria such as reduced genomes (<800 kbp), lack of complete glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathways, and inability to synthesize amino acids. Instead, they rely on the reductive pentose phosphate pathway (Calvin cycle) for essential biosynthesis and redox balance. P. aenigmaticus may also rely on elemental sulfur oxidation (sdo), partial nitrite reduction (nirK), and sulfur-related amino acid metabolism (SAMe → SAH). Both bacteria were found in high relative abundance in cultures of Tetradesmus obliquus HTB1 (freshwater) and Nannochloropsis oceanica IMET1 (marine), suggesting a tight association with microalgae in various environments. The absence of full metabolic pathways for energy production suggests extreme metabolic limitations and obligate symbiosis, most likely with other bacteria associated with the microalgae.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Physiological and genomic evidence of cysteine degradation and aerobic hydrogen sulfide production in freshwater bacteria

The sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine is abundant in the environment, including in freshwater lakes. Biological cysteine degradation can result in hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), a toxic and ecologically relevant compound that is a central player in biogeochemical cycling in aquatic environments. Here, we investigated the ecological significance of cysteine in oxic freshwater, using isolated cultures, controlled experiments, and multiomics. We screened bacterial isolates enriched from natural lake water for their ability to produce H 2 S when provided cysteine. We identified 29 isolates (Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria) that produced H 2 S. To understand the genomic and genetic basis for cysteine degradation and H 2 S production, we further characterized three isolates using whole-genome sequencing (using a combination of short-read and long-read sequencing) and tracked cysteine and H 2 S levels over their growth ranges: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (Gammaproteobacteria), S. bentonitica (Gammaproteobacteria), and Chryseobacterium piscium (Bacteroidota). Cysteine decreased and H 2 S increased, and all three genomes had genes involved in cysteine degradation. Finally, to assess the presence of these organisms and genes in the environment, we surveyed a 5-year time series of metagenomic data from the same isolation source (Lake Mendota, Madison, WI, USA) and identified their presence throughout the time series. Overall, our study shows that diverse isolated bacterial strains can use cysteine and produce H 2 S under oxic conditions, and we show evidence using metagenomic data that this process may occur more broadly in natural freshwater lakes. Future considerations of sulfur cycling and biogeochemistry in oxic environments should account for H 2 S production from the degradation of organosulfur compounds.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Corrosion Behavior of a Reactive Bond Between Stainless Steel and a Cast AlCeMg Alloy

Corrosion is a longstanding issue for metal components, especially those used in heat exchanger applications. Al–Ce–Mg alloys may provide a potential solution to this problem due to their good mechanical properties and potential reaction bonding with other metals. The reaction bonding involves a “reactive” bond that occurs upon casting of Al–Ce–Mg alloy over stainless steel (SS). Here this study examined the corrosion response of Al–2Ce–6Mg (atomic percent)/(SS) reactive bond interfaces after samples were completely submerged in nitric, sulfuric, formic, and mixed acids for 267 h. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that in the as-cut condition, reactive bond formations were seen frequently throughout the length of the casting and maintained a secure bond between the alloy and the SS tubes. Furthermore, the nitric, sulfuric, and the mixed acids did not have a deleterious effect on the reactive bond structure. However, formic acid did produce changes in both the microstructural appearance and the elemental profile across the bond due to the formation of corrosion reaction products on the acid-exposed surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Membrane-Induced Vanadium Crossover-Blocking Polybenzimidazole Copolymer with Exceptional Proton Selectivity

Broad deployment of redox flow batteries is hindered, in part, due to the lack of highly selective ion-exchange membranes with high proton conductivity. We report a post-functionalization strategy for polybenzimidazole copolymer (PBI-co) membranes by a reacting mixture of concentrated sulfuric and phosphoric acids that led to improved membrane selectivity while retaining high proton conductivity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed successful sulfonation and protonation of benzimidazole functionalities. PBI-co exhibits a very high room-temperature proton conductivity of 0.138 S cm -1 , as measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. PBI-co also demonstrates electromigration crossover mitigation under applied current densities up to 500 mA cm -2 , and voltage pulses up to 1.4 V, while also inhibiting diffusion-driven vanadium crossover for over 20 days. Single-cell vanadium flow battery testing on post-functionalized PBI-co further confirms state-of-the-art battery performance with an ~99.5% Coulombic efficiency at 100 mA cm -2 and an area-specific resistance of ~20 mO cm 2 lower than Nafion-212 membrane.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on NiH48C16S8(NO7)2 by Materials Project

Ni(SO)6(CH3)16(NO3)2(SO)2 crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of sixteen methane molecules, two nitric acid molecules, two sulfur monoxide molecules, and one Ni(SO)6 cluster. In the Ni(SO)6 cluster, Ni is bonded in an octahedral geometry to six O atoms. There are a spread of Ni–O bond distances ranging from 2.08–2.10 Å. There are three inequivalent S sites. In the first S site, S is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to one O atom. The S–O bond length is 1.53 Å. In the second S site, S is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to one O atom. The S–O bond length is 1.54 Å. In the third S site, S is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to one O atom. The S–O bond length is 1.53 Å. There are three inequivalent O sites. In the first O site, O is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to one Ni and one S atom. In the second O site, O is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to one Ni and one S atom. In the third O site, O is bonded in a bent 120 degrees geometry to one Ni and one S atom.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on CoS2N5O9 by Materials Project

CoN4NO2SO3SO4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic P2_12_12_1 space group. The structure is one-dimensional and consists of four azanide;cobalt molecules; four nitrous acid molecules; four sulfur trioxide molecules; and two SO4 ribbons oriented in the (1, 0, 0) direction. In each SO4 ribbon, S2- is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to three O2- atoms. There is one shorter (1.43 Å) and two longer (1.44 Å) S–O bond length. There are four inequivalent O2- sites. In the first O2- site, O2- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one S2- and two equivalent O2- atoms. There are one shorter (2.76 Å) and one longer (2.81 Å) O–O bond lengths. In the second O2- site, O2- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one S2- atom. In the third O2- site, O2- is bonded in a single-bond geometry to one S2- and one O2- atom. The O–O bond length is 2.84 Å. In the fourth O2- site, O2- is bonded in a distorted trigonal non-coplanar geometry to three O2- atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Materials Data on S2NO9 by Materials Project

NO4SO3SO2 crystallizes in the triclinic P-1 space group. The structure is zero-dimensional and consists of two hydrogen peroxide;nitrous acid molecules, two sulfur dioxide molecules, and two sulfur trioxide molecules.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Studies on the Fundamental Mechanisms of Niobium Electropolishing

To improve the superconducting performance of niobium SRF cavities, electropolishing (EP) with a sulfuric and hydroflouric acid mixture is used. The chemistry of this reaction is complex due to the interactions between diffusion mechanisms, surface oxide structure, and multiple chemical species. Past studies on the EP process have produced a certain set of optimum parameters that have been used successfully for a long time. However, two recent developments have called the efficacy of the existing EP process into question. Since the introduction of nitrogen doping the surface quality of some cavities has been very poor. Also, EP performed at colder than standard temperatures leads to an increase in the cavity performance. To understand these questions, we perform a multivariate study on the EP process using niobium test samples electropolished at different temperatures and potentials. We find that electropolishing at lower potentials leads to rough surface features such as pitting and grain etching. Some of the surface features show similarities to features seen in niobium cavities. The effect of electropolishing temperature is not clear based on the results of this study.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2025

SF6 / Acetone Separation & Purification

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) is recognized as the most potent greenhouse gas used in the power transmission and semiconductor sectors. In the past decade, its global emissions have increased sharply, largely due to the absence of effective disposal and recovery pathways. This concern was formally addressed under the Kyoto Protocol, which urged participating nations to adopt measures to limit SF₆ emissions and mitigate its role in climate change. In recent years, various abatement strategies have been explored, including non-thermal plasma (NTP) technologies such as radio frequency, microwave, dielectric barrier discharge, and electron beam systems. While these methods can decompose SF₆, they also produce hazardous by-products like sulfur oxyfluorides, sulfur dioxide, hydrofluoric acid, and fluorine gas. Because these compounds pose both environmental and health risks, replacing traditional disposal practices with modern, more effective treatment methods has become an urgent priority.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗