In the past 150 years, humans have invested a lot of resources in combating sulfur oxide emissions in order to reduce environmental pollution and protect the earth. In particular, sulfur dioxide (SO2), a gas that comes from burning fossil fuels, not only affects air quality, but also poses a threat to human health. As environmental protection regulations become increasingly stringent, countries have adopted diversified technologies to control SO2 emissions, especially in coal-fired power plants and other industrial facilities.
Sulfur oxides are an important environmental issue, and our response has continued to evolve and improve over the past 150 years.
The flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system is a technology specifically used to remove sulfur dioxide released during the combustion process. These systems mainly include various methods such as wet washing and spray drying. These technologies are not only widely used in thermal power plants, but also play an important role in industries such as waste incineration, petroleum refining, and cement production.
In a typical coal-fired power plant, an FGD system can remove more than 90% of SO2.
The history of sulfur oxide removal can be traced back to the mid-19th century, when the United Kingdom had preliminary ideas. With the construction of large power plants, the issue of SO2 emissions from a single location has gradually attracted public attention. In 1929, the House of Lords ruled that a landowner had been harmed by SO2 emissions, an incident that sparked a public campaign against power plants and subsequently led to legislation to control SO2 emissions. ”
Today, power plants in many countries still use various FGD technologies to treat their emissions. Not only that, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has also formulated guidelines requiring ships to follow corresponding emission regulations. This means that the fight against sulfur oxides continues despite rising global environmental awareness.
Although these technologies have achieved significant results in reducing SO2 emissions, there are still some challenges. For example, conventional technology has its limitations when it comes to dealing with sulfuric acid mist generated during combustion. This mist is formed by the oxidation of SO2 and is extremely corrosive, posing potential threats to facilities and the environment. Currently, wet electrostatic precipitators are increasingly used to combat this problem.
The emergence of new technologies gives us more options to address the team challenge of sulfur oxides.
With the rapid advancement of science and technology, emerging desulfurization technologies, such as radiation technology, are being researched and applied worldwide. These new technologies can not only effectively remove SO2, but also convert it into useful nitrogen fertilizer, further promoting the goal of sustainable development.
Looking back on the response process over the past 150 years, the results of the actions are obvious, but the task of protecting the earth's ecological environment is still arduous. How many new challenges do we face, and how should we choose future technology and policy directions?