Destroying nitrosamines in post-combustion CO2 capture

Nitrosamines formed in the CO2 capture process are considered potential environmental hazards and ways to minimize the formation of these degradation products are necessary. Here, a catalytic nitrosamine hydrogenation with amine recovery approach is proposed. Palladium-based heterogeneous catalysts were screened initially, and then alternative nickel- and iron-based catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for their performance towards nitrosamine destruction. An iron-based catalyst performed superior to the nickel catalyst with 65% destruction of nitrosamines, and using fly ash as a metal source for catalytic hydrogenation with >60% destruction of nitrosamines was observed.