The anion-exchange resin based desulfurization concept

Since SOs-emission from conventional power plants, the paper industry, and future coal-fired Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) based power plants can be controlled with the injection of alkali metals or alkaline earth metal compounds, a cost efficient and reliable method of desulfurization is needed. This thesis will further develop the anion-exchange resin based desulfurization concept put forth by Butler (UTSI 1986) and Modeste (UTSI 1988). This thesis covers the following: screening of commercially available resins, developing a batch procedure to choose the three best candidate resins, designing the bench-scale fixed-bed system, developing the fixed-bed experimental procedure, carrying out process variable study, converting Antonson's computer program for use on the UTSI computer system (Northwestern 1968), analyzing the fixed-bed experimental runs using Antonson's model, and choosing the best resin(s) for future study. After the analysis of the fixed-bed data, no resin out-performed the others for all of the process variables. The final determination as to the best resin must wait until the cyclic operations and the regeneration optimization investigations are complete.