Catalytic oxidation of S(IV) in seawater slurries of activated carbon.

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) by means of SO2 absorption in seawater is a well-known process with a main drawback; due to the low S(IV) oxidation rate at the low pH values of the absorption tower effluent, a large oxidation basin is required. Laboratory reactor tests, in which a commercially available activated carbon was used, showed a significant catalytic effect. It is shown that the kinetic equation for the catalytic oxidation of S(IV), in seawater slurries of activated carbon, is first-order with respect to S(IV) and zero-order with respect to oxygen. The dependence of the kinetic constant with respect to pH, temperature, and catalyst size particles were also obtained.