The report projects the 1985 market potential for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) byproduct sulfur and sulfuric acid in the U.S. The projection is 165,000 tons of sulfur from 11 power plants and 554,000 tons of acid from 6 power plants, with a combined benefit to the affected industries of $20 million. FGD technology improvements and cost increases, particularly for fuel oil, enhanced the FGD sulfur market potential and decreased the FGD sulfuric acid potential, relative to previous projections. The 1979 revised New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), and the requirement (in many cases) for FGD waste treatment, improved the potential for both products. The revised NSPS, which preclude low-sulfur coal as an option, greatly increase the FGD market potential for plants coming on line after the mid-1980s. Fuel-oil cost escalation is important in reducing FGD sulfuric acid market potential, as are process modifications for chloride control. Limestone scrubbing with waste sludge ponding remains the economically predominant option. The limestone scrubbing advantage is decreased, however, when extensive waste treatment and landfill are required.

Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Industrial Environmental Research Laboratory by Tennessee Valley Authority, Office of Power, Division of Energy Demonstrations and Technology, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Contract Number: EPA Interagency agreement D9-E721-BI. Final report. "EPA 600-7-80-131." "July 1980." Cover title. Bibliography: pages 28-29.