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Calcium sulfite hemihydrate dissolution and crystallization

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6444622

Experiments were conducted to measure the dissolution and crystallization rate of calcium sulfite hemihydrate in aqueous solutions typical of flue gas desulfurization processes. A stagnant mass transfer model integrated with solution equilibrium was developed to predict CaSO/sub 3/.1/2H/sub 2/O dissolution rates as a function of pH, temperature, solution composition,and particle size. The crystal growth rate was found to be a strong function of relative supersaturation and strongly inhibited by dissolved sulfate. The growth rate per unit BET surface area, R' (mole/cm/sup 2/-min), is given by: 9.7 x 10/sup -4/ exp(-10250/RT) x (RS/sub CaSO/sub 3// - 1)/sup 2/ x RS/sub CaSO/sub 4// - 1, where RS/sub CaSO/sub 3// and RS/sub CaSO/sub 4// are the relative saturations with respect to calcium sulfate (CaSO/sub 3/.1/2H/sub 2/O) and gypsum (CaSO/sub 4/.2H/sub 2/O) respective. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that solids generated in the presence of dissolved sulfate contained solid solution sulfate and crystallized as agglomerates of very thin platelets. In the absence of solid or dissolved sulfate, the solids were agglomerates of well-formed columnar, hexagonal crystals.

Research Organization:
Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
OSTI ID:
6444622
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English