Hydrated Lime or Sorbacal® and Active Carbon or Lignite Coke for Biomass Waste to Energy Incineration Plant

Biomass waste-to-energy represents a promising and environmentally sustainable solution in the field of energy conversion, transforming organic material into electricity and heat. However, the process is not without its challenges, as it involves the emission of pollutants such as sulfur oxides (SOx), hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrofluoric acid (HF), and other potentially harmful atmospheric pollutants. These pollutants must be removed using alkaline chemical reagents such as hydrated lime or Sorbacal®, and, where necessary, activated carbon or lignite coke.

Solution with Hydrated Lime or Sorbacal®

An innovative solution for treating flue gases generated during biomass waste-to-energy treatment is based on the use of hydrated lime or Sorbacal®. Unlike the traditional method, which involves a system of mills to pulverize and inject sodium bicarbonate into the flue gas, the hydrated lime or Sorbacal® approach uses a lime doser to neutralize acidic pollutants. Lime, being highly reactive with acids, binds with these components to form salts that can be easily filtered and removed from the gas stream.

Active Carbon or Lignite Coke

When certain types of biomass need to be disposed of, flue gas treatment can be supplemented with a secondary filtration system using activated carbon or lignite coke. This additional technology is particularly useful when the treated biomass releases specific pollutants, such as heavy metals, which require targeted solutions for their neutralization. Activated carbon and lignite coke, thanks to their porous surface and adsorption capacity, retain heavy metals and prevent their release into the environment.