Attrition of fresh and reactivated sorbents for SO2 capture in fluidized bed reactors

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the propensity to attrition and fragmentation of two different limestones, in connection with phenomena occurring during their 1st sulphation, hydration-induced reactivation and resulphation. Sulphation and resulphation were conducted at 850°C in a lab-scale fluidized bed reactor. Reactivation of the spent sorbents was achieved either by water or by steam 3h-hydration, at temperatures of 25°C (water hydration) and 250°C (steam hydration). The results showed that, besides the sorbent nature and properties, the chemical and physical changes occurring during the hydration stage had a marked influence on the attrition/fragmentation behaviour of the different reactivated sorbents.