flue gas desulphurization
Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) is a set of environmental protection technologies used to remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust flue gases produced by fossil fuel power plants. The primary objective of FGD systems is to mitigate SO2generated environmental impact, specifically the acid rain and respiratory problems affecting humans which it can induce. Even though SO2 emissions are mainly due to burning coal, limestone scrubbing processes used in FGD systems gave higher removal rates of sulphur oxides in some plants tested than the corresponding figures from dry lime processes. With the FGD, SO2 is converted into gypsum: this solid by-product can then be sold as a raw material for wallboard manufacturing and mixed into cement in the construction industry. These are essential systems to face environmental regulations. They are widely used in coal-fired power plants, various industrial boilers and other combustion units which burn sulfur-containing fuels.