Factors Influencing SO 2 Removal Efficiency by Electron Beam Processing of Coal-Fired Flue Gas Treatment

Abstract

A bench-scale test (800 N^m3/h) for electron beam treatment of flue gas was conducted. It was concluded that the method is favourable for treatment of flue gas with a high SO₂ concentration (5,500 ppm) at low electron beam irradiation (5 kGy). Results are consistent with the claim that SO_x is removed from flue gas by the reaction of SO_x with ammonia, and the intermediate salts formed are oxidised by radicals to sulphate salts consisting mainly of ammonium sulphate (a N-fertiliser). A typical flue gas desulphurization (FGD) method such as the wet limestone process cannot remove NO_x and SO₃ effectively (Ando, 1990), but the electron beam process removes SO₂, SO₃ and NO_x simultaneously without generating waste water and CO₂.