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Recent advances in flue gas desulfurization gypsum processes and applications – A review
Citation:
Koralegedara, N., P. Pinto, D. Dionysiou, AND Souhail R. Al-Abed. Recent advances in flue gas desulfurization gypsum processes and applications – A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 251:109572, (2019).
Impact/Purpose:
Flue gas desulfuration gypsum (FGDG) generated in coal-fired power plants is a material suitable for several beneficial use applications. Its generation has increased due to recent developments flue gas desulfurization technology, but its reuse rate has decreased. This is a review paper of all the beneficial applications that have been considered environmentally acceptable with the purpose of promoting its use. This is an important review because it would help in evaluating scenarios where FGDG may be used in application rather than ending up in landfills and without posing risks to the environmental. The parties interested in this research would be the FGDG generators, decision-makers on local and State levels in determining the beneficial use of FGDG and the scientific community and students in the energy and environmental fields.
Description:
Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) is an industrial by-product generated during the flue gas desulfurization process in coal-fired power plants. Due to its abundance, chemical and physical properties, FGDG has been used in several beneficial applications. However, during the past decade, the rate of beneficially used FGDG has gradually decreased, while its production has drastically increased. The presence of hazardous elements such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, and selenium in FGDG has reduced its beneficial value. Nevertheless, due to the recent developments in flue gas desulfurization processes, the “modern” FGDG contains lesser amounts of these elements, thus increasing its beneficial value and appeal to be included in other products. Hence, there are novel and traditional FGDG applications in different reuse scenarios investigated recently that have been deemed to pose minimal environmental concern – these need to be better understood. This review summarizes beneficial FGDG applications that have been deemed to pose minimal environmental concern, emphasizing their principles, research gaps, and potential developments, with the aim of increasing the reuse rate of FGDG.
