Investigation on the relationship between the fine particle emission and crystallization characteristics of gypsum during wet flue gas desulfurization process

Transformation and removal of ammonium sulfate aerosols and ammonia slip from selective catalytic reduction in wet flue gas desulfurization system

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) denitration may increase the emission of NH₄⁺ and NH₃. The removal and transformation characteristics of ammonium sulfate aerosols and ammonia slip during the wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) process, as well as the effect of desulfurization parameters, were investigated in an experimental system equipped with a simulated SCR flue gas generation system and a limestone-based WFGD system. The results indicate that the ammonium sulfate aerosols and ammonia slip in the flue gas from SCR can be partly removed by slurry scrubbing, while the entrainment and evaporation of desulfurization slurry with accumulated NH₄⁺ will generate new ammonium-containing particles and gaseous ammonia. The ammonium-containing particles formed by desulfurization are not only derived from the entrainment of slurry droplets, but also from the re-condensation of gaseous ammonia generated by slurry evaporation. Therefore, even if the concentration of NH₄⁺ in the desulfurization slurry is quite low, a high level of NH₄⁺ was still contained in the fine particles at the outlet of the scrubber. When the accumulated NH₄⁺ in the desulfurization slurry was high enough, the WFGD system promoted the conversion of NH₃ to NH₄⁺ and increased the additional emission of primary NH₄⁺ aerosols. With the decline of the liquid/gas ratio and flue gas temperature, the removal efficiency of ammonia sulfate aerosols increased, and the NH₄⁺ emitted from entrainment and evaporation of the desulfurization slurry decreased. In addition, the volatile ammonia concentration after the WFGD system was reduced with the decrease of the NH₄⁺ concentration and pH values of the slurry.

Simultaneous removal of SO2 and NOx from flue gas by wet scrubbing using a urea solution

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) are major air pollutants, so simultaneously removing them from gases emitted during fossil fuel combustion in stationary systems is important. Wet denitrification using urea is used for a wide range of systems. Additives have strong effects on wet denitrification using urea, and different mechanisms are involved and different effects found using different additives. In this study, the effects of different additives, initial urea concentrations, reaction temperatures, initial pH values, gas flow rates, and reaction times on the simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification efficiencies achieved using wet denitrification using urea were studied in single factor experiment. The optimum reaction conditions for desulfurization and denitrification were found. Desulfurization and denitrification efficiencies of 97.5% and 96.3%, respectively, were achieved at a KMnO₄ concentration 5 mmol/L, a reaction temperature of 70°C, initial urea solution pH 8, a urea concentration of 9%, and a gas flow rate of 40 L/h. The concentrations of the desulfurization and denitrification reaction products in the solution were determined. NO_x was mainly transformed into N₂, and the NO3- and NO2- concentrations in the solution became very low. The reactions involved in SO₂ and NO_x removal using urea were analyzed from the thermodynamic viewpoint. Increasing the temperature was not conducive to the reactions but increased the rate constant, so an optimum temperature was determined. The simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification kinetics were calculated. The urea consumption and NO2- , NO3- , and SO42- generation reactions were all zero order. The NO3- generation rate was greater than the NO2- generation rate. The simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification process and mechanism were studied. The results provide reference data for performing flue gas desulfurization and denitrification in factories.

A potential source for PM2.5: Analysis of fine particle generation mechanism in Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization System by modeling drying and breakage of slurry droplet

Aerosol particulate matter with dynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) is the main cause for haze pollution in China. As a dominant precursor of PM_2.5, SO₂ emitted from industrial process is now strictly controlled by using limestone/gypsum Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization (WFGD) system in China. However, a phenomenon that fine particle derived from WFGD is recently addressed, and is suggested to be a potential source of primary PM_2.5. Herein, a first investigation into the particle generation mechanism in WFGD system is conducted with a novel droplet (containing particles) drying and breakage model. The proposed model considers a random and porous crust instead of the previous regular crust assumption, and is verified by comparing the modeling results with measurements. An orthogonal test with four factors and three levels is carried out through modeling calculation, and flue gas temperature (T_g) in the inlet is found to be a governing parameter for PM_2.5 yields in WFGD. With T_g in range of 120-160 °C, PM_2.5 yields in desulfurizing tower can reach a maximum value at ∼2 × 10⁸ cm^-3 under typical WFGD condition. To avoid this situation and reduce the PM_2.5 generation, T_g is suggested to be lower than 120 °C. Additionally, a new insight of the elimination effect of gas-gas heater (GGH) on "gypsum rain" in WFGD system is provided.

The formation and growth of calcium sulfate crystals through oxidation of SO2by O3on size-resolved calcium carbonate

Calcium sulfate is a major constituent of atmospheric sulfate, with a typical rod-like morphology ranging from several hundred nanometers to approximately two micrometers observed in field studies. However, the chemical formation mechanism is still not well known. In this study, the kinetics and mechanism for the formation and growth of rod-like calcium sulfate crystals through oxidation of SO₂ by O₃ on size-resolved CaCO₃ at different relative humidity (RH) were investigated using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found that the concentration and formation rate of sulfate decreased with the increasing diameter of CaCO₃ particles, and thus smaller particles could enhance the formation of sulfate due to more reactive sites on smaller particles. The rod-like calcium sulfate crystals were formed only at RH above 60% and in the presence of reactant gases through the heterogeneous pathway. The liquid-like water layer formed by promotion of high RH in the presence of reactant gases could facilitate the formation and aggregation of calcium sulfate hydrates and thus promote the formation and growth of rod-like calcium sulfate crystals. This study provides a possible mechanism for the formation and growth of rod-like calcium sulfate crystals existing in the atmosphere.

The heterogeneous formation pathway of rod-like calcium sulfate crystals in the atmosphere.