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ADIPIC ACID DEGRADATION MECHANISM IN AQUEOUS FGD (FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION) SYSTEMS
Citation:
Meserole, F., D. Lewis, A. Nichols, AND G. Rochelle. ADIPIC ACID DEGRADATION MECHANISM IN AQUEOUS FGD (FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION) SYSTEMS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/7-79/224 (NTIS PB80144595), 1979.
Description:
The report gives results of a field and laboratory study of the adipic acid degradation mechanism in aqueous flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems. (Adding adipic acid to limestone-based, SO2 wet scrubbers increases SO2 removal and limestone utilization. However, as much as 80% of the adipic acid added to some systems is lost, supposedly through degradation.) The degradation is associated with the oxidation of sulfite, possibly through a free radical mechanism. At least one mechanism is an oxidative decarboxylation yielding valeric acid, butyric acid, glutaric acid, and CO2. The quantities of products measured during laboratory testing only account for approximately 30% of the adipic acid degraded.