POLLUTION CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES – Vol. II - Control of Sulfur Oxides - S. Zandaryaa and A.

Buekens

CONTROL OF SULFUR OXIDES

S. Zandaryaa
Environment and Sustainable Development Programme, United Nations University,
Tokyo, Japan

A. Buekens
Department of Chemical Engineering – CHIS 2, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Keywords: Acid Rain, Bergius Coal Liquefaction Process, Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD), Hydrodesulfurization (HDS), Sulfuric Acid
Production, SO2 emissions.

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Contents

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1. Introduction

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1.1. Sulfur Oxides

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1.2. Environmental and Health Effects of SOx Emissions
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2. SO2 Control Strategies
3. Fuel Cleaning
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3.1. Sulfur in Fuels
3.2. Fuel Desulfurization
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3.3. Desulfurizing Gaseous Fuels

3.4. Desulfurizing Liquid Fuels
3.5. Desulfurizing Solid Fuels
3.6. Bergius Coal Hydrogenation Process
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3.7. Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

3.8. Synthetic Gasoline
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4. Flue Gas Desulfurization Technologies

4.1. Introduction
4.2. Neutralizing Agents Used in Dry and Semi-dry Processes
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4.3. Basic Chemistry of FGD

4.4. Wet FGD Processes
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4.5. Dry FGD Processes

4.6. Fluidized Bed Desulfurization (FBC)
4.7. Regenerative FGD Technologies
4.7.1. Wet Regenerative Processes
4.7.2. Dry Regenerative Processes
4.8. FGD Technology Applications
5. Conclusions
Glossary
Bibliography
Biographical Sketches

Summary

Sulfur oxides are produced from the burning of fossil fuels, mainly coal and oil, and the
smelting of metal ores that contain sulfur. Emissions of sulfur oxides cause serious

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impacts on human health and the environment, both directly and as a result of the way
they react with other substances in the air. Sulfur oxides are main precursors of
atmospheric acidification, aerosol generation, and acidic dry and wet deposition.

This chapter summarizes various technologies available for controlling emissions of

sulfur oxides. Approaches for reducing SOx emissions include using clean fuels,
cleaning sulfur-containing fuels, and flue gas desulfurization techniques. Switching to
low-sulfur fuels, or cleaning high-sulfur fuels, is an effective means of preventing SOx
emissions as the amount of SO2 produced directly depends on the sulfur content of fuel.
Fuel cleaning is cost-effective in most cases, but it generates large quantities of solid
waste and wastewater that should be properly treated and disposed of. Alkali sorbent
injection and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) methods allow a relatively deep SOx
removal. Flue gas desulfurization is carried out in either regenerable or once-through

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systems. Both systems are based on either wet or dry FGD processes.

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1. Introduction

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AP L
1.1. Sulfur Oxides
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Sulfur oxides (SOx) comprise two distinct compounds, namely dioxide (SO2) and
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trioxide (SO3). Sulfur dioxide is a colorless, toxic gas with pungent odor formed when
sulfur is oxidized:
E O–

S+O 2 → SO 2 (1)

Sulfur dioxide is highly soluble in water, forming sulfurous acid (H2SO3). Under
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combustion conditions (> 1000° C), SO2 is stable. Conversely, SO3 is stable in air at
ambient temperatures and extremely reactive and corrosive.
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Large quantities of SO2 are produced from human activities, mainly burning elemental
sulfur in fuels or roasting pyrite (FeS2) or sulfide ores of metals such as zinc, copper,
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lead, etc. The major sources of SOx emissions are fossil fuel fired power plants and
boilers, metal ore smelters, oil refineries and transportation. Smaller stationary
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combustion sources such as coal burning for domestic heating also contribute to the
problem, especially in urban areas during the winter. Fuel combustion contributes up to
about 70 % of the total SO2 emissions, with the balance attributed to oil refining,
chemical and metallurgical industries (see Pollution Control in Industrial Processes).
Almost all SO2 emissions are anthropogenic, although there are also some natural
sources, such as erupting of volcanoes and bush burning.

During combustion most of the sulfur in fuel is converted to SO2, with SO3 being
formed in small amounts. Sulfur dioxide emissions can easily be estimated from fuel
consumption, simply by multiplying fuel consumption with twice its sulfur (S) content
(mass units), since

▪ in mass units the amount of SO2 is almost the double of that of fuel sulfur, and
▪ sulfur contained in fuel is converted almost quantitatively into SO2 and SO3.

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Not all SO2 produced during combustion is emitted with the flue gases; some basic
compounds in ash bind part of it. Spontaneous neutralization reduces the calculated
emissions from coal (see Control of Pollution in the Chemical Industry). Ash behavior,
however, must be evaluated in each specific case, on a basis of both composition and
reactivity.

Sulfur trioxide is either emitted directly into the atmosphere or produced by oxidation of
SO2. Catalytic conversion of SO2 to SO3 is possible in the presence of particulates in the
atmosphere, or of boiler deposits, dust, and other gaseous impurities in the flue gas, but
generally it remains marginal. Particulates tend to catalyze the atmospheric conversion
of SO2 to SO3 which combines with water vapor to form sulfuric acid mist (aerosols).
Homogeneous NOx catalysts also oxidize SO2 to SO3. Emissions of hydrogen sulfide
are detectable by its smell (see Odor Control).

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At temperatures below its dewpoint (< 160° C, depending on moisture and SO3

S
concentration), sulfuric acid condenses to an acid aerosol. Scavenging of SO2 by soot

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flakes leads to low-temperature, carbon catalyzed sulfuric acid formation. This concept

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is used industrially as a means of flue gas cleaning, converting SO2 into storable, but
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expensive sulfuric acid.
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1.2. Environmental and Health Effects of SOx Emissions
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Human exposure to sulfur dioxide can result in irritation of the respiratory system which
can cause both temporary and permanent damage. The degree of harm is significantly
higher in the presence of airborne particulates and aerosols.
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Sulfur dioxide can cause both acute and chronic injury to plants and limit both their
growth and crop yield. Other adverse effects of SO2 are corrosion and damage of
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building materials and textile fibers.

2. SO2 Control Strategies

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Strategies for SO2 control are based on either prevention of SO2 pollution (firing clean
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fuel), or end-of-pipe treatment of flue gases. Since small-scale flue gas cleaning is often
impractical, substitution of sulfur-containing fuels by clean fuel is desirable.

Prevention of SO2 pollution involves switching to low-sulfur fuels, or else a reduction

of fuel-sulfur before its firing. Since SO2 emissions are directly proportional to the
sulfur content of fuel, and also to the amount fired, a reduction in emissions can be
achieved by switching to low-sulfur fuels and to higher quality ones. But low-sulfur
fuels are not always available—low-sulfur fuel reserves are decreasing and are
becoming unavailable in many areas—and cost more than less desirable high-sulfur
qualities. For example, Bulgaria suffers from a combination of high-sulfur, low heating
value lignite fuel (see Control of Pollution in the Chemical Industry).

Hence, various cleaning methods have been developed for desulfurizing sulfur-bearing
fuels prior to their firing. This is rather easy for natural gas and light distillates, but less
practical for heavy oil or solid fuels (see Control of Pollution in the Petroleum

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Industry). Treatment may involve a purely mechanical coal washing, chemical

conversion, liquefaction (Bergius route) or gasification, with subsequent cleaning of the
gas produced.

The end-of-pipe treatment is based on flue gas desulfurization (FGD). Numerous FGD
processes have been developed and several have achieved commercial application,
especially for large stationary sources, such as thermal power plants, oil refineries,
industrial boilers and some types of industrial plants, e.g. sulfide ore roasters and
smelters or Claus plants.

Another approach for SO2 control is in-situ treatment, by fluidized bed combustion in
the presence of limestone or dolomite.

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3. Fuel Cleaning

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Almost all fuels can be converted into a gaseous or liquid form, while eliminating

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sulfur. Technically feasible technologies are available, but their application generally

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stumbles over cost factors. Moreover, each process typically brings losses in energy
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content of the order of 15 to 40 %. These factors hamper the introduction of new
technologies, as long as cheap natural gas and oil remain in ample supply.
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3.1. Sulfur in Fuels
E O–

Sulfur is an essential element, present, for instance, in gypsum deposits, many metal
ores, fossil fuels, and proteins. All conventional fuels contain various sulfur-bound
organic and inorganic compounds, and their sulfur content varies significantly:
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▪ wood and cellulose-rich biomass (< 0.1 percent),

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▪ natural gas (0 – 15 percent),

▪ crude oil (0.3 to several percent), and
▪ coal (0.5 to > 3.0 percent).
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Low-S crude oil is called sweet, while high-S oil is sour.

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Some waste is strongly enriched in sulfur, e.g. waste sulfuric acid or oleum, rubber,
protein-rich or derived waste (hair, feathers, and leather). Historically, acid sludge,
resulting from obsolete oil refining, was dumped in pools and such contaminated
legacies are sooner or later to be removed and treated.

3.2. Fuel Desulfurization

Fuel desulfurization is State-of-the-Art in gas production, where it may be applied to

gases (sour natural gas), and in oil refineries (naphtha, kerosene, and distillates). Heavy
distillates can still be treated, but feature three phase, trickling bed, catalytic reactors.
The high boiling point, coking tendency and ash content lead to frequent catalyst
regeneration and often require replacement. Prior processing to lighter fractions by
coking, fluid catalytic cracking or hydrocracking is often preferred over direct treatment
of heavies (see Control of Pollution in the Petroleum Industry).

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Desulfurization of fuel offers several advantages, based on:

▪ Effect of concentration. Fuel contains sulfur in a more concentrated solid or

liquid form; in flue gas, it is considerably diluted by nitrogen and excess
combustion air.
▪ Effect of scale. Using clean fuel, desulfurized at refineries, is simpler than
installing pollution control at each small or medium-sized plant. Conversely,
only large power plants can afford huge investment in large-scale FGD
equipment, if fuel is supplied at lower cost.
▪ Resource conservation. Desulfurization separates sulfur from fuel, yielding
elemental sulfur that is marketable, easily recovered, shipped, and handled.

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The sulfur recovered is marketed and eventually converted into sulfuric acid in chemical
industry.

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3.3. Desulfurizing Gaseous Fuels

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Gaseous fuels include natural gas, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), refinery gas,
cracking gas, producer gas, town gas, fermentation gas, etc. Sulfur mainly appears as
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hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbonyl sulfide (COS), and mercaptans (R-SH, in which R or
CnH2n+1 is an alkyl group).
E O–

Inorganic sulfur (H2S, COS) is removed mainly by:

▪ scrubbing, washing out sulfur-bearing compounds using selective absorption

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liquors, or
▪ chemical conversion, after capturing the gases on reactive solid adsorbents like
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iron oxides.

Processes separating H2S and COS from the mainstream have been available for many
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decades (see wet scrubbing). A sulfur-rich gas is eventually recovered by stripping to

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▪ regenerate and recycle the absorption liquor, and

▪ recover a concentrated stream, converted into elemental sulfur or sulfuric acid
by the Claus process.

Organic sulfur can be extracted, mildly oxidized to less offensive compounds or treated
by hydrodesulphurization.

Claus Process

The Claus process is often used in oil refineries, downstream of fuel desulfurization
HDS-processes, for converting gaseous H2S into molten sulfur. It features two balanced
steps:

▪ A thermal oxidation step, in which H2S is oxidized at high temperatures (1000 to

1400 oC) to SO2, with some H2S being converted to elemental S, or remaining

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unconverted.
▪ A catalytic step, in which the remaining H2S reacts with SO2 on a catalyst at
lower temperatures (200 to 350° C), producing molten elemental sulfur.

The main reactions are:

Step 1: 2 H 2S + 3 O 2 2 SO 2 + 2 H 2O (2)

Step 2: 2 H 2S + SO 2 3S + 2 H 2O (3)

These reactions are highly exothermic, releasing heat, recovered by generating low-
pressure steam in heat exchangers, following the conversion stages.

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Sulfur recovery of 94 to 97 % is achieved, using two or three successive catalytic

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stages. Factors such as concentration, contact time, and reaction temperature influence
upon efficiency. Only some H2S remains in the tail gas, and with further treatment

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recovery of over 99 % can be obtained.
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Absorption on Iron Oxides
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Inorganic sulfur is easily removed from gas streams such as synthesis gas or town gas
by reaction of acid gases (H2S and HCN) with a porous mass of iron oxide (Fe2O3). In
E O–

this traditional process, gas flows through a series of fixed bed vessels, containing crude
iron oxide pellets. The H2S reacts forming mainly iron sulfide (FeS) and water.
Additional air is supplied to the inlet gas in an amount about half of the theoretical
oxygen, required to convert the iron sulfide back to the oxide and precipitate elemental
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S in the bed. Usually, three to four vessels operate in series, with the freshest mass in
the last vessel, so that the sulfur at the outlet gas is rarely over one mg per Nm3 but
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organic S remains untreated. The removal of H2S may be less complete and the life of
the iron oxide mass proportionally shorter if a high S-content gas is treated.
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The process is non-regenerative, as sulfur is normally not recovered. Once the iron
oxide mass is saturated, it is removed and discharged. However, the mass can be burned
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for SO2 recovery, e.g. roasted together with pyrite in a sulfuric acid plant. If available, it
can also be fed into cement kilns, where the resulting SO2 is converted into gypsum, the
HCN into nitrogen and the iron oxide incorporated in cement clinker. Spent mass from
the process should be disposed of and handled properly.

This method was widely used for cleaning town gas; its residues are still a source of soil
contamination in many traditional industrial sites due to the improper past disposal of
spent mass. Today, the process is obsolete and replaced by scrubbing in adequate
liquors.

Removal of Organic Sulfur

As the previous processes remove only inorganic sulfur (mainly H2S), the organic sulfur
compounds remain in the fuel gas untreated. If such compounds are present in
significant concentrations, it is necessary to remove them, to avoid smell, corrosion, and

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pollution. Organic sulfur can be removed by catalytically converting the S-containing

organic compounds to H2S by hydrogenation, followed by catalytic conversion of H2S
by the Claus process.

Synthetic Natural Gas

Synthetic natural gas is easily converted into methane, using a nickel-based catalyst.

3.4. Desulfurizing Liquid Fuels

Sulfur in liquid fuels is present as thiols (mercaptans) R-SH, sulfides R-S-R’, disulfides
R-SS-R’, thiophenes, and derivates. Such sulfur forms can be removed by catalytic
hydrosulfurization (HDS).

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Hydrodesulfurization (HDS)

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HDS is based on catalytic hydrogenation of S-containing compounds to H2S. The latter

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is recovered by scrubbing in suitable liquors, subsequent stripping from the effluent
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liquors, and converted to elemental S in the Claus process. At the same time N-
containing compounds are converted to NH3.
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Catalytic activity is mainly related to sulfides of group VI, such as molybdenum (Mo)
E O–

and tungsten (W), and group IX to X, such as cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), the latter
acting as promoters. In general, a catalyst, molybdenum sulfide (CoMo/Al2O3)
containing cobalt, is used. It is poisoned by H2S and regenerated by running hydrogen
through the reactor. Poisoned catalysts can also be recycled for metal recovery; before
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shipping they need to be deactivated, to avoid spontaneous oxidation of hydrogen, still

present in the catalyst.
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The most important HDS reactions are:

→ RH + H 2S
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mercaptans RSH + H 2 (4)

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disulfides RSSR + 2 H2 → R -R + 2 H 2S (5)

sulfides RSR + H2 → R -R + H 2S (6)

The reactions take place in adiabatic fixed bed reactors, typically at 300 to 400° C and a
hydrogen pressure of 1.0 MPa. The S-content of 1 to 5 % is typically reduced to 0.1 %.
Higher operating temperatures are required for fuels with higher boiling point or higher
S-content of the feedstock.

Originally, HDS was required for pre-treating feedstock to catalytic reformers using
hydrogen produced by conversion of cycloparaffins (technical name naphthenes) into
arenes (aromatics) in the same units. Large amounts of hydrogen are consumed in HDS
and requirements are often a multiple of what is generated by catalytic reforming in a
refinery, depending on the oil type treated. In this case, a dedicated hydrogen plant is

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needed. Since hydrogen production is expensive, almost all hydrogen is recycled to the
HDS-inlet.

Direct hydrodesulfurization is impractical for heavy oils, with high viscosity and
sizeable ash content, causing fast fouling and coking of catalysts.

3.5. Desulfurizing Solid Fuels (see Control of Pollution in the Chemical Industry)

Solid fuels are subdivided in:

▪ coal qualities of different rank,

▪ lignite,
▪ peat,
▪

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wood, and other forms of biomass (straw, animal dung).

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In coal, the most abundant and widely used solid fuel, sulfur occurs both as inorganic

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minerals, mainly pyrite or marcassite (both with chemical formula FeS2, but different

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crystalline structure), and as organic compounds incorporated in the combustible part of
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coal. Sometimes sulfur is present as sulfates. Depending on its origin, coal highly varies
in S-content. Up to 70 % of sulfur in high-S coal is in pyritic or sulfate form, not
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chemically bound to the coal molecules.
Inorganic Sulfur can be removed by mechanical means (coal washing), while organic
E O–

Sulfur can only be eliminated using chemical hydrogenation or gasification processes.

Coal Washing
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Coal is a low-cost fuel, supporting only limited extraction, beneficiation, or refining

costs.
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Coal washing (i.e. beneficiation) requires first finely milling, to liberate the denser ash
and pyrite particles, then removing these particles by wet (jigging) or dry methods (air
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classification), as used in ore dressing.

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About 50 % of pyritic (inorganic) sulfur, or about 20 to 30 % of total S, can be removed

by coal washing. This is a cost-effective approach in controlling SO2 emissions and
removing ash, thus reducing fly ash emissions, but it also generates large quantities of
solid waste and acid wastewater, which must be properly treated and disposed of.

3.6. Bergius Coal Hydrogenation Process

The Bergius process was developed for hydrogenating coal to oil, typically at 400° C
and 2-4 MPa pressure, using inexpensive, non-regenerated catalysts. Today, the process
is far too expensive for commercial application.

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[1] Banks M. (2000). Basiswissen Umwelttechnik: Wasser, Luft, Abfall, Lärm und Umweltrecht – 4.,

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komplett neue, bearbeitete Auflage, Würzburg: Vogel, 2000, ISBN 3-8023-1797-1. [Comprehensive
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[Link] Inc.[Prestigious encyclopedia relating to all human sciences, including environmental

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pollution] H O
[3] Harrison R.M. and Van Grieken R.E. (1998). Atmospheric Particles – IUPAC Series on Analytical
and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems, Volume 5, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0 471 95935 9.
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[An excellent compilation of texts from numerous authors on a variety of aspects relative to Atmospheric
Particles].
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[4] Srivastava R. K. (2000). Controlling SO2 emissions: A Review of Technologies. U.S. EPA,
National Risk Management Research Laboratory, EPA/600/R-00/093. Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
[Provides extensive information on FGD technologies and their applications, performance and costs.]
[5] Stern D. I. (2001). Global Sulfur Emissions in the 1990s. The Australian National University,
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Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, Ecological Economics Program, Working Paper in
Ecological Economics - Number 0103. Available from: [Link] [Presents
an overview of global and regional SO2 emissions in 1850-1990.]
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Biographical Sketches
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Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa is Postdoctoral Research fellow at the United Nations University (UNU) and the
Tokyo University in Japan. She is an Environmental Engineer by training.
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She was born in Bayanbulag, Mongolia. Her educational background includes [Link]. (1993) and [Link].
(1995) from Mongolian University of Science and Technology and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering
(2001) from University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy. She obtained Diploma on Environmental
Management at the International Postgraduate Programme on Environmental Management (CIPSEM) at
Dresden University of Technology, Germany, in 1997. She was a Visiting PhD student at Pennsylvania
State University, USA, in 1999.
Dr. Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa was Professor of Environmental Engineering and Head of Environmental
Engineering Department at the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. She has lectured at
European universities for academic, policy-making, and international audiences and worked on several
national and international research projects. She received a research grant “Young Researchers’ Project
2001-2002” from University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy. She advised and coordinated UN-ESCAP
environmental projects in Mongolia.
Her current research focuses on environment and sustainability, with emphasis on zero emissions
approach and material flow analysis for assessing sustainability at national and local levels and
integrating environmental considerations into economic and social policy-making. She has also been
involved in research activities on urban ecosystems management.
Dr. Zandaryaa is author/co-author of numerous refereed research journal and conference papers, and

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POLLUTION CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES – Vol. II - Control of Sulfur Oxides - S. Zandaryaa and A. Buekens

project reports. She is co-editor of a book entitled “Environmental Engineering and Renewable Energy”
(Elsevier, 1998) and serves as a peer-reviewer for the Journal of Air & Waste Management Association.
She was awarded full scholarships from the Government of Mongolia and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Italy. In 2002, she was awarded Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral
Fellowship. She is a member of the Mongolian National Committee for UNESCO-International
Hydrology Programme (IHP).

Alfons Buekens was born in Aalst, Belgium; he obtained his [Link]. (1964) and his Ph.D (1967) at Ghent
University (RUG) and received the K.V.I.V.-Award (1965), the Robert De Keyser Award (Belgian Shell
Co., 1968), the Körber Foundation Award (1988) and the Coca Cola Foundation Award (1989). Dr.
Buekens was full professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), since 2002 emeritus. He lectured in
Ankara, Cochabamba, Delft, Essen, Sofia, Surabaya, and was in 2002 and 2003 Invited Professor at the
Tohoku University of Sendai.
Since 1976 he acted as an Environmental Consultant for the European Union, for UNIDO and WHO and

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as an Advisor to Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, T.N.O. and VITO. For 25 years, he advised the major
industrial Belgian Bank and conducted more than 600 audits of enterprise.

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Main activities are in thermal and catalytic processes, waste management, and flue gas cleaning, with

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emphasis on heavy metals, dioxins, and other semi-volatiles. He coordinated diverse national and

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international research projects (Acronyms Cycleplast, Upcycle, and Minidip). Dr. Buekens is author of
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one book, edited several books and a Technical Encyclopedia and authored more than 90 scientific
publications in refereed journals and more than 150 presentations at international congresses. He is a
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member of Editorial Boards for different journals and book series.
He played a role in the foundation of the Flemish Waste Management Authority O.V.A.M., of a
hazardous waste enterprise INDAVER, and the Environmental Protection Agency B.I.M./I.B.G.E. He
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was principal ministerial advisor in Brussels for matters regarding Environment, Housing, and Classified
Enterprise (1989). Since 1970 he has been a Member of the Board of the Belgian Consumer Association
and of Conseur, grouping more than a million members in Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
He is licensed expert for conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (Air, Water, Soil) and Safety
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Studies regarding large accidents (Seveso Directive).

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