Flue Gas Desulfurization

Pineville, South Carolina, USA

Burning coal produces numerous kinds of waste. There is the solid heavy ash that stays in the boiler, and then up the chimney go: “fly ash” (simple to capture), a variety of gasses, and a mixture of heavy metals. Much of the sulfur pollution can be dissolved from flue gas by mixing it with a slurry of limestone, with which it reacts to leave a large volume of gypsum, infused with whatever additional contaminants were absorbed.This material can then be resold to the construction industry for use in making wall board. In the USA, it is also being sold as fertilizer and landfill.

In 2016, this plant emitted 118.8 pounds of mercury, 6,467.5 pounds of lead, and 118.8 pounds of chromium into the environment.

Over 13,000 deaths and tens of thousands of cases of chronic bronchitis, acute bronchitis, asthma, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, chronic lung disease, and pneumonia each year are attributable to fine particle pollution from U.S. coal plant emissions.

So many thanks to Southwings for flight support!