INTERMEDIATES-

THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY THE REMOVAL OF SOX FROM COM- BUSTION PROCESS FLUE GASES FOLLOWED BY DIRECT CONVERSION TO ELEMENTAL SULFUR, USING CHELATED IRON THAT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO FORM A CHELATE:FES COMPLEX. THE PROCESS WOULD HAVE SALEABLE ELEMENTAL SULFUR AS THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT BYPRODUCT AND WOULD OPERATE WITH THE CHELATED IRON AS A REGENERABLE CATALYTIC REAGENT. THE REACTIONS TO BE EXAMINED IN THIS PROGRAM SHOULD PROVIDE MUCH HIGHER SCRUBBING EFFICIENCIES (>98%) THAN ARE COMMON IN CONVENTIONAL FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION (FGD) SYSTEMS BY OPERATING IN THE ALKALINE PH RANGE AND SHOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER NOX REDUCTION CAPABILITY THAN CONVENTIONAL PROCESSES. MUCH OF THE PROCESS CHEMISTRY HAS BEEN STUDIED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LO-CAT PROCESS FOR COMMERCIAL OXIDATION OF H2S TO SULFUR. THE PLANNED REACTIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT AT MUCH LOWER REDOX POTENTIAL LEVELS THAN LO-CAT.