Investigation of Mazidagi phosphate ore in wet flue gas desulphurization

The employment of Mazidagi phosphate ore for wet flue gas desulphurization was investigated. The ore was exposed to sulfation processes in a three-phase double-stirred reactor to determine the effects of certain parameters on SO2 absorption. The absorption rate significantly increased with inlet SO2 concentration, gas flow rate, stirring speeds, and solid concentration but not with temperature. The absorption rate increases as the mass transfer coefficients and interface area value increase with stirring speeds. These parameters have also a prominent impact on the absorption rate depending on the dissolution rate of CaCO3. Based on these, the most effective parameters on SO2 absorption are liquid-phase stirring speed and suspension concentration, and the process is diffusion-controlled in the liquid phase. In addition, optimum conditions were determined, and then the ore was exposed to sulfation processes via a semi-batch operation mode. A comparison between raw and sulfated ore was examined for the changes in physical structure and chemical composition. Although the ratios of fluorapatite and carbonate-fluorapatite remained nearly constant, the ratio of calcite decreased significantly. It was determined from these investigations that the calcite in the phosphate ore has been converted into the CaSO3∙½H2O compound. Consequently, both the calcite in the phosphate ore was utilized effectively for wet flue gas desulphurization, and a phosphate-rich industrial product was obtained. © 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.