Carbothermal reduction of flue gas desulfurization ash through the utilization of waste heat from steel slag: Investigating performance and mechanism

Flue gas desulfurization ash is a significant solid waste generated by the steel industry, leading to environmental pollution. In response to this challenge, this study proposes a novel method for preparing CaS from desulfurized ash through carbothermal reduction using steel slag waste heat. Thermodynamic analysis using FactSage and non-isothermal thermogravimetric testing were conducted to confirm the feasibility of carbothermal reduction. The experiment successfully prepared CaS, with a molar ratio of C to CaSO3 of 1.5 or higher leading to complete reduction. The presence of reducing agent C replaced the decomposition reaction of CaSO3 with reduction, occurring at a temperature 60 K lower. Large scale thermogravimetric analysis experiments demonstrated that as the mass percentage of pulverized coal increased, the reduction reaction of CaSO3 shifted to a lower temperature zone, expanding the temperature range and achieving the theoretical value. Reduction rates of CaSO3 were 43.12 %, 76.9 %, and 99.3 % with ratios of CaSO3 to reducing agent C of 1:0.75, 1:1.5, and 1:3, respectively. Kinetic study results showed that the activation energy of CaSO3 reduction ranged from 90.669 kJ/mol to 136.059 kJ/mol within the conversion rate range of 0.2 to 0.9. When CaSO3 and carbon powder are mixed and subsequently added, the thermochemical decomposition reaction of CaSO3 is inhibited. This inhibition leads to the formation of stable CaS through the reduction of desulfurization ash by carbon.