Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewater Treatment, Reuse, and Recovery
Program
Civil Engineering
College
Engineering
Student Level
Master's
Start Date
7-11-2018 4:15 PM
End Date
7-11-2018 5:30 PM
Abstract
Flue gas emitted from coal fired power plants is one of the major sources of Sulphur and nitrogen oxides emissions in the world today. Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) is a pollution prevention method which is employed to limit Sulphur dioxide emissions directly in the environment. Although the coal use has decreased over the decades, it is still a major contributor of such emissions. Following Clean Air Act in the United States, coal fired power plants were prohibited to emit SOx and NOx gases into the atmosphere. The plants have been using scrubbers to limit their air emissions. The wastewater coming out of these scrubbers are high in salinity and without proper treatment will have negative consequences in the downstream part of the watershed to which it is being disposed to. Wastewater from the FGD process contains high concentrations of dissolved salts that limit options for recycling and reuse. My research project focuses on treating FGD wastewater with a combination of ion exchange (IX), precipitation, nanofiltration and membrane distillation to improve the recovery of marketable materials and the recycling of water to minimize the disposal of wastewater. The solutions would be combined to precipitate marketable gypsum under low pH conditions and magnesium hydroxide under high pH conditions. The objective of the proposed research is to develop a computer model of the unit processes and the overall treatment system. Laboratory experiments to support model development will focus on the ion exchange and precipitation processes. The benefit of the study will be the development of a process with improved opportunities for recovering materials and reusing wastewater.
Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewater Treatment, Reuse, and Recovery
Flue gas emitted from coal fired power plants is one of the major sources of Sulphur and nitrogen oxides emissions in the world today. Flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) is a pollution prevention method which is employed to limit Sulphur dioxide emissions directly in the environment. Although the coal use has decreased over the decades, it is still a major contributor of such emissions. Following Clean Air Act in the United States, coal fired power plants were prohibited to emit SOx and NOx gases into the atmosphere. The plants have been using scrubbers to limit their air emissions. The wastewater coming out of these scrubbers are high in salinity and without proper treatment will have negative consequences in the downstream part of the watershed to which it is being disposed to. Wastewater from the FGD process contains high concentrations of dissolved salts that limit options for recycling and reuse. My research project focuses on treating FGD wastewater with a combination of ion exchange (IX), precipitation, nanofiltration and membrane distillation to improve the recovery of marketable materials and the recycling of water to minimize the disposal of wastewater. The solutions would be combined to precipitate marketable gypsum under low pH conditions and magnesium hydroxide under high pH conditions. The objective of the proposed research is to develop a computer model of the unit processes and the overall treatment system. Laboratory experiments to support model development will focus on the ion exchange and precipitation processes. The benefit of the study will be the development of a process with improved opportunities for recovering materials and reusing wastewater.
