Kinetic Analysis of Paper White Mud Dissolution at Constant pH

One of the most important steps in the wet limestone–gypsum flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) process is limestone dissolution, which provides the dissolved alkalinity necessary for SO2 absorption. Accurately evaluating the rate controlling step in sorbent dissolution process is important in the design and efficient operation of WFGD plants. In the present work, the kinetics of paper white mud(PWM) in dissolution process has been studied by using a pH-stat method. The results obtained indicated that PWM dissolution in WFGD conditions obeys the modified shrinking core model. PWM dissolution kinetics follows the film diffusion and surface reaction control and the rate controlling step of PWM is film diffusion control. The activation energies of PWM in film diffusion and surface reaction steps are 11.9±0.7 kJ/mol and 13.7±1.3 kJ/mol, respectively.