Study on the reaction rate of sulfite oxidation with cobalt ion catalyst

Wet limestone scrubbing is the most common flue gas desulfurization process for control of sulfur dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, and forced oxidation is a key past of the reaction. In the present work the oxidation rate was experimentally studied by contacting pure oxygen with a sodium sulfite solution. The sulfite oxidation reaction rate was then measured photographically for various sodium sulfite and Co2+ concentrations. The sulfite oxidation reaction rate was affected by the mass transfer characteristics of the gas-liquid absorbers with the cobalt ion catalyst as well as the reaction kinetics. The sulfite oxidation reaction rate controlled by the reaction kinetics was first order with respect to the sulfite. When the sulfite oxidation reaction rate was controlled by the gas-liquid rate of mass transfer characteristics, the reaction was zeroth order with respect to the sulfite. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.