Grantee Research Project Results
Valuable Products from Coal Burning Wastes
EPA Contract Number: 68D10071Title: Valuable Products from Coal Burning Wastes
Investigators: Laird, Douglas H.
Small Business: Science Ventures Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: September 1, 1991 through August 1, 1993
Project Amount: $149,110
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (1991) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Coal combustion flue gas that is desulfurized with time or limestone results in 30-35 million tons per year of gypsum- like waste. This presents a disposal problem which could be eliminated by conversion into marketable commodities.Science Ventures, Inc., has been experimenting with a new high-speed chemical process to solve a related environ- mental problem. Their FLASC process recovers sulfur values from phosphogypsum for recycle to the wet phos- phoric acid process. Synthetic aggregate for concrete is produced as well.
The proposed process would use similar entrained, slag- ging, milding reducing conditions and equipment to produce cement and sulfuric acid for sale. Some of the coal ash would also be consumed this way.
Very fast conversion rates of these processes promise reduced capital costs per unit of products. In addition, fresh flue gas desulfurization waste requires substantially less fuel to process than natural or other byproduct gypsums.
Phase I crucible tests proved the cement quality to be acceptable and showed the practicality of entrained slag- ging equipment. Based on the positive Phase I results, Phase II should progress rapidly using existing bench scale apparatus.
Supplemental Keywords:
RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Waste, Sustainable Industry/Business, exploratory air engineering, Chemical Engineering, air toxics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Chemistry, VOCs, HAPS, Chemistry, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Incineration/Combustion, Environmental Engineering, in-process changes, combustion byproducts, desulfurization, ambient air quality, air pollutants, chemical use efficiency, waste minimization, waste reduction, sulfur recovery and reuse, cleaner production, pollution control technologies, clean technology, sulfur, Sulfur dioxide, flue gas, sulfur concrete, sulfur dioxide (SO2), combustion, sulfur recovery, coal combustion, coal fired power plants, pollution prevention, sulfer oxide, clean combustion, combustion waste recovery, coal combustion waste, atmospheric chemistry, Sulfur Oxides (SO2)Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.