Recent advances in process and materials for dry desulfurization of industrial flue gas: An overview

Dry flue gas desulfurization is one of the hottest research directions and has aroused extensive interest in the field of flue gas purification in recent years because of its great advantages such as high removal efficiency, simple process, low operating costs, as well as low risk of potential secondary contamination. This Overview Article summarizes the latest achievements in dry flue gas desulfurization from the aspects of both process and materials. The newly developed dry desulfurization processes including source/end control technologies and the various dry desulfurization materials including Calcium/Magnesium/Sodium/Carbon-based and transition metal oxide desulfurizers are categorized and elaborated in detail. Important research contributions are highlighted in terms of novelties, merits and demerits, economy, and applied range to acquire more advanced dry desulfurization technology. The current challenges and future strategies are discussed about the dry desulfurization frontiers of both technology and academy from the viewpoint of process and material matching, high dry desulfurization efficiency, disposal of used desulfurizers, the structure–function relationship of industrial desulfurizers, etc. This overview article is anticipated to attract more attention to dry desulfurization and encourage the future application of advanced desulfurization processes and materials in the purification of industrial waste gas.