DearDear Neil,

I think you can safely ignore any formation of N2O in the oxidation
furnace since N2O is not stable at temperatures usually encountered
in our systems, i.e. > 800 C. In fact, at temperatures above 600 C
N2O "decays" according to 2 N2O ---> 2 N2 + O2 (which is an
exothermal reaction; +19.61 kcal/mol).

Any nitrogen oxides formed during the combustion process originate
from N containing organics such as amines and nitriles.

The production of nitrogen oxides from the elements is an endothermic
process. N2 is just too lethargic to react. For this reason,
technically N2O or NO are made from NH3 and HNO3 or NH3 and O2,
respectively.

Even if there would some formation of N2O it would be so minimal that
the cold trap could easily deal with it (bp of N2O -88.48 C, mp
-99.86C).

But this is by the by, go for the method you feel most confident and,
hence, comfortable with.


Good luck.

                               Wolfram ;-)