Spectroscopic Analysis of Industrial Emissions for Nitric Oxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide

The emission of oxides of nitrogen is recognized as a factor in the formation of Los Angeles-type smog. Reduction of these emissions by chemical means and by modification of combustion conditions has been studied. In this work the need for continuous monitoring of nitric oxide (NO) became imperative. Continuous recording of the concentrations of nitric oxide and sulfur dioxide in flue gases has been made possible by modifications in the sampling system preceding two Beckman Model LB 21 infrared analyzers. Because the major absorption bands for sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide occur at different wave lengths, a separate detector cell was used for each constituent.