Application of Infrared Spectroscopy to the Study of Gas-Solid Interactions Between S0₂ in a Simulated Flue Gas and Various Solid Adsorbents

Abstract

This paper presents the application of infrared spectroscopy to air pollution control. The objective of this work was to understand the basic interactions occurring between gaseous sulfur dioxide and various solid adsorbents. In this instance, we utilized infrared spectroscopy to study the gas-solid interactions between sulfur dioxide in a simulated flue gas and various solid adsorbents. In situ spectroscopic studies were conducted in a hightemperature infrared cell up to 300^°C. By measuring the integrated intensities of the sulfate absorption band of the reacted product, we were able to calculate the rates at which limestone sample No. BCR 1699—202 adsorbed sulfur dioxide from a simulated flue gas at 262^°C. These studies were combined with the recorded spectra of various limestone samples before and after exposure to sulfur dioxide at 750^°F and 1800^°F. The results indicated that the most probable reaction mechanism of samples exposed at 750^°F was the adsorption of sulfur dioxide as sulfite and oxidation of the sulfite to sulfate.

Work conducted at the General Technologies Corporation, Reston, Virginia and sponsored by U. S. Public Health Service, HEW under Contract No. PH 86-68-78.