Why Choose Magnesium Hydroxide?
Compared to traditional limestone methods, magnesium hydroxide desulfurization technology offers several significant advantages:
High Reactivity and Desulfurization Efficiency: While magnesium hydroxide's molecular structure makes it less soluble in water, the dissolved portion is fully ionized, and its slurry has a natural buffering effect, maintaining a stable pH in the reaction system. This ensures a rapid and thorough reaction with SO₂, easily achieving desulfurization efficiencies exceeding 99%, making it particularly effective for treating high-sulfur coal flue gas.
Operating Costs and Economic Efficiency:
Low Equipment Investment: Because the reaction product, magnesium sulfate, is highly soluble, it is less likely to scale or clog equipment and pipelines. This simplifies system design, reduces maintenance frequency, and extends equipment life, significantly reducing both initial investment and long-term operating costs.
Lower Energy Consumption: The low liquid-to-gas ratio throughout the process means a smaller volume of circulating slurry, significantly reducing energy consumption for power equipment such as pumps and fans.
Environmentally Friendly and Byproduct Value:
No Solid Waste: Unlike the limestone method, which produces large amounts of gypsum, the magnesium hydroxide method produces a dissolved magnesium sulfate solution as a byproduct. This avoids the accumulation and disposal of solid waste.
Resourceable Byproduct: Magnesium sulfate is a valuable chemical product widely used in agriculture (as a fertilizer or soil conditioner), feed additives, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other fields. This transforms the desulfurization process from a mere "cost center" into a potential "profit point," establishing a circular economy model.
Simple and Safe Operation: Magnesium hydroxide is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and stable, making it easy to transport and store. Its slurry preparation system is relatively simple, providing a safer operating environment.
Requirements for the Magnesium Hydroxide Material: To ensure the efficiency and stability of the desulfurization process, strict requirements are also imposed on the magnesium hydroxide raw materials used:
Purity: High-purity magnesium hydroxide provides higher reactivity, reducing the impact of inert impurities on the system and byproduct quality.
Particle Size and Activity: Fine particle size and high specific surface area accelerate dissolution and reaction rates, improving desulfurization efficiency.
Impurity Content: Harmful impurities such as chloride ions and heavy metals must be strictly controlled to prevent corrosion of equipment or impact on the safety and application value of byproducts.
Prospects and Outlook
Against the global pursuit of carbon neutrality and sustainable development, magnesium hydroxide flue gas desulfurization technology perfectly aligns with the principles of green, circular, and economic industrial governance. It not only effectively addresses sulfur dioxide pollution but also achieves a win-win situation in terms of environmental and economic benefits through resource utilization of byproducts.
