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US4255402A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sulphur dioxide gas scrubbing process

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-08-13
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Granted: 1981-03-10
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Expires: 1999-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract Sulfur dioxide is removed from a gas stream by contacting the gas with an aqueous solution containing sulfite anion, magnesium cation, and one or more other cations whose sulfite salts are more soluble than magnesium sulfite. The contacting solution is regenerated with magnesium oxide or hydroxide and then recycled.

Inventors

  • 👤 Philip S. Lowell

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 20:03
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/46; B01D53/48; B01D53/50; B01D53/501; C; C01; C01B; C01B17/00; C01B17/02; C01B17/04; C01B17/05

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A regenerable process for removing sulfur dioxide from a sulfur dioxide-containing gas stream which comprises (i) contacting the gas with an aqueous sulfite solution characterized by a sulfite anion concentration sufficient to produce an alkalinity of 0.2 to 4.0, magnesium cation in an amount to substantially saturate the solution with respect to magnesium sulfite, and one or more other cations whose sulfite salts are more soluble than magnesium sulfite, thereby sorbing sulfur dioxide, and converting sulfur dioxide and sulfite to bisulfite; (ii) treating the bisulfite-containing solution with magnesium oxide or hydroxide, thereby reconverting bisulfite to sulfite, precipitating magnesium sulfite, and regenerating the solution; (iii) separating precipitated magnesium sulfite from the regenerated solution; and (iv) recycling and reusing the resulting aqueous sulfite solution for scrubbing the gas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
A regenerable process for removing sulfur dioxide from a sulfur dioxide-containing gas stream which comprises (i) contacting the gas with an aqueous sulfite solution characterized by a sulfite anion concentration sufficient to produce an alkalinity of 0.2 to 4.0, magnesium cation in an amount to substantially saturate the solution with respect to magnesium sulfite, and one or more other cations whose sulfite salts are more soluble than magnesium sulfite, thereby sorbing sulfur dioxide, and converting sulfur dioxide and sulfite to bisulfite; (ii) treating the bisulfite-containing solution with magnesium oxide or hydroxide, thereby reconverting bisulfite to sulfite, precipitating magnesium sulfite, and regenerating the solution; (iii) separating precipitated magnesium sulfite from the regenerated solution; and (iv) recycling and reusing the resulting aqueous sulfite solution for scrubbing the gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
The process of claim 1 in which said other cations are selected from ammonium, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and zinc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
The process of claim 1 which further comprises drying and calcining said separated magnesium sulfite, thereby regenerating magnesium oxide and recovering sulfur dioxide, or one of its reaction products.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
The process of claim 1 in which said aqueous sulfite solution contains solid magnesium sulfite, magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 1 in which said other cation is sodium and said aqueous bisulfite containing solution is a substantially homogeneous solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The process of claim 5 which further comprises purging sulfate from at least part of said bisulfite-containing solution by precipitating and separating sodium sulfate as an anhydrous or decahydrate salt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
The process of claim 1 or 5 which further comprises prescrubbing said gas stream with an aqueous medium before step (i) of said process, thereby removing particulate matter and hydrogen chloride, as well as saturating said gas stream with water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 24 words
The process of claim 1 or 5 which further comprises filtering said bisulfite-containing solution before step (ii) of said process, thereby removing particulate matter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
The process of claim 6 which further comprises drying and calcining said separated magnesium sulfite, thereby regenerating magnesium oxide and recovering sulfur dioxide.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3617212A Cited
US3650692A Cited
US3687624A Cited
US3971844A Cited
US4178348A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-03-09 1984-09-08 1985-03-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-03-09 1988-09-08 1989-03-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-03-09 1992-09-08 1993-03-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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