Modeling of Limestone Dissolution for Flue Gas Desulfurization with Novel Implications

Solid-liquid dissolution is a central step in many industrial applications such as pharmaceutical, process engineering, and pollution control. Accurate mathematical models are proposed to improve reactor design and process operations. Analytical methods are significantly beneficial in the case of iterative methods used within experimental investigations. In the present study, a detailed analytical solution for the general case of solid particles dissolving in multiphase chemical reaction systems is presented. In this model, the authors consider a formulation that considers the particles' shape factor. The general case presented could be utilized within different problems of multiphase flows. These methods could be extended to different cases within the chemical engineering area. Examples are illustrated here in relation to limestone dissolution taking place within the Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization process, where calcium carbonate is dissolving in an acidic environment. The method is the most common used technology to abate SO2 released by fuel combustion. Limestone dissolution plays a major role in the process. Nevertheless, there is a need for improvements in the optimization of the WFGD process for scale-up purposes. The mathematical model has been tested by comparison with experimental data from several mild acidic dissolution assays of sedimentary and metamorphic limestone. We have found that R-2 subset of 0.92 +/- 0.06 from dozens of experiments. This fact verifies the model qualifications in capturing the main drivers of the system.