Dissolution rate of limestone for wet flue gas desulfurization in the presence of sulfite

Limestone dissolution rate was measured by a pH-stat method with CO2 sparging and dissolved sulfite. The dissolution rate of limestone under these conditions was found to be controlled by mass transfer and surface kinetics. As can be seen from the results, in the presence of sulfite, limestone dissolution rate increases with increasing stirring speed, reaction temperature and CO2 partial pressure. The crystallinity of limestone has a great impact on the dissolution rate: The lower the value of the crystallinity of limestone is, the higher the dissolution rate is. The presence of sulfite promotes the dissolution rate when pH value is below 5.5 but inhibits it when pH value is above 5.5. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.