A method and system for collecting gaseous nitrogen compounds into an aqueous solution are provided. The method enables the combination of gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the aqueous solution to generate ammonium compound components, to include ammonium sulfate. Sulfur may be pressure injected into the solution as gaseous sulfur dioxide. Optionally, carbon may be introduced into the solution as gaseous carbon dioxide. The sulfur may be earlier sourced by a burning of a sulfurous solid. The pH of the solution may be monitored and the introduction of ammonia, carbon and/or sulfur may be halted or constrained while the pH of the solution is measured outside of specified range. The solution may be allowed to age to permit a mix of compounds of ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbomate to restabilize and thereby encourage a renewed surge of ammonium sulfate generation.

A method and system for collecting gaseous nitrogen compounds into an aqueous solution are provided. The method enables the combination of gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the aqueous solution to generate ammonium compound components, to include ammonium sulfate. Sulfur may be pressure injected into the solution as gaseous sulfur dioxide. Optionally, carbon may be introduced into the solution as gaseous carbon dioxide. The sulfur may be earlier sourced by a burning of a sulfurous solid. The pH of the solution may be monitored and the introduction of ammonia, carbon and/or sulfur may be halted or constrained while the pH of the solution is measured outside of specified range. The solution may be allowed to age to permit a mix of compounds of ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbomate to restabilize and thereby encourage a renewed surge of ammonium sulfate generation.

Methods of purifying ammonium products, such as ammonium sulfate, from an aqueous ammonium-containing process stream are described. The process stream may be a waste stream from an industrial process, such as from acrylonitrile production, for example. Such process streams typically contain a number of organic contaminants. The methods involve removing water from the process stream and then treating the process stream to oxidatively destroy the organic contaminants. In the described methods, the oxidant used is a strong acid, such as concentrated sulfuric acid. The acid is added at a concentration and rate that is effective at oxidatively removing the organic carbon in the stream while avoiding complications from competing side reactions. Once the process stream is sufficiently free of such contaminants, the ammonium products can be granulated.

A system for the production of ammonium sulfate granules including a pipe cross reactor (PCR) configured to contact concentrated sulfuric acid with anhydrous ammonia to produce a PCR product comprising ammonium sulfate; and a granulator fluidly connected to the PCR, whereby PCR product extracted from the PCR can be introduced into the granulator, an inlet for ammonium sulfate seed material, an ammonia sparger configured to spray liquid anhydrous ammonia onto a bed of ammonium sulfate granules within the granulator, and a granulator product outlet configured for extraction of granulator product comprising ammonium sulfate granules from the granulator. A method of producing ammonium sulfate granules is also provided.

A system for the production of ammonium sulfate granules including a pipe cross reactor (PCR) configured to contact concentrated sulfuric acid with anhydrous ammonia to produce a PCR product comprising ammonium sulfate; and a granulator fluidly connected to the PCR, whereby PCR product extracted from the PCR can be introduced into the granulator, an inlet for ammonium sulfate seed material, an ammonia sparger configured to spray liquid anhydrous ammonia onto a bed of ammonium sulfate granules within the granulator, and a granulator product outlet configured for extraction of granulator product comprising ammonium sulfate granules from the granulator. A method of producing ammonium sulfate granules is also provided.

Methods and devices for controlling ammonia escape and soluble particulate matter formation in an ammonia-based carbon capture process are provided. After the process gas containing sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide may be treated by ammonia-based desulfurization and carbon capture, free ammonia contained in the tail gas may be removed by scrubbing the tail gas with sulfuric acid-containing solution and aqueous solution. The sulfuric acid reacts with ammonia to form ammonium sulfate, and the ammonium sulfate solution may be sent to an ammonia-based desulfurization system, where it may be crystallized together with the desulfurization byproduct ammonium sulfate to produce solid ammonium sulfate. By treating the ammonium sulfate solution in a membrane separation device, solution gradient control and system water balance may be achieved. The ammonia in the tail gas may be effectively removed, while the soluble particulate matter in the tail gas may be reduced.

Methods and devices for controlling ammonia escape and soluble particulate matter formation in an ammonia-based carbon capture process are provided. After the process gas containing sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide may be treated by ammonia-based desulfurization and carbon capture, free ammonia contained in the tail gas may be removed by scrubbing the tail gas with sulfuric acid-containing solution and aqueous solution. The sulfuric acid reacts with ammonia to form ammonium sulfate, and the ammonium sulfate solution may be sent to an ammonia-based desulfurization system, where it may be crystallized together with the desulfurization byproduct ammonium sulfate to produce solid ammonium sulfate. By treating the ammonium sulfate solution in a membrane separation device, solution gradient control and system water balance may be achieved. The ammonia in the tail gas may be effectively removed, while the soluble particulate matter in the tail gas may be reduced.

In a method for physical and thermochemical treatment of biomass, the biomass moisture content is reduced in a dryer and ammonia (NH.sub.3) is also released from the biomass during drying. The dried biomass is then either pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis reactor and the pyrolysis gas is forwarded to and combusted in a combustion device to form flue gas, or is combusted in a combustion facility unit to form flue gas. In either case the flue gas is fed to a mixer. Oxygen (O.sub.2) is metered to the flue gas in the mixer and is fed directly to the dryer as drying gas. As the drying gas passes through the dryer, the sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) contained in the drying gas and/or the sulfur trioxide (SO.sub.3) chemically reacts with the ammonia (NH.sub.3) to form ammonium sulfite ((NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.3) and/or ammonium sulfate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4). Also a treatment facility physically and thermochemically treats the biomass.

In a method for physical and thermochemical treatment of biomass, the biomass moisture content is reduced in a dryer and ammonia (NH.sub.3) is also released from the biomass during drying. The dried biomass is then either pyrolyzed in a pyrolysis reactor and the pyrolysis gas is forwarded to and combusted in a combustion device to form flue gas, or is combusted in a combustion facility unit to form flue gas. In either case the flue gas is fed to a mixer. Oxygen (O.sub.2) is metered to the flue gas in the mixer and is fed directly to the dryer as drying gas. As the drying gas passes through the dryer, the sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2) contained in the drying gas and/or the sulfur trioxide (SO.sub.3) chemically reacts with the ammonia (NH.sub.3) to form ammonium sulfite ((NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.3) and/or ammonium sulfate ((NH.sub.4).sub.2SO.sub.4). Also a treatment facility physically and thermochemically treats the biomass.

A process for recovery lead including providing lead-bearing material. The lead-bearing material includes lead sulfate (PbSO.sub.4). The lead-bearing material is heated resulting in the formation of gaseous sulfur compounds and lead oxide. The gaseous sulfur compounds and the lead oxide are separated. The lead oxide is lanced with a hydrocarbon resulting in the formation of lead (Pb) and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2). The lead and the carbon dioxide are separated.