Calcium-to-Ammonia Desulfurization Offers a New Approach to Long-Term FGD Compliance

As environmental regulations continue to tighten, industrial companies are facing growing pressure to upgrade their emissions-control systems while managing rising operating and compliance costs. In this context, calcium-to-ammonia desulfurization is emerging as an alternative approach to conventional flue gas desulfurization (FGD).

Traditional power plant desulfurization based on calcium absorbents generates significant quantities of desulfurization gypsum. At the same time, the chemical reaction can result in additional CO₂ emissions, creating potential challenges as solid-waste management and carbon-emission requirements become more stringent.

Calcium-to-ammonia technology uses ammonia water as the absorbent and converts sulfur dioxide into ammonium sulfate fertilizer. According to Mingsheng Environmental Protection, the process does not generate solid desulfurization waste or wastewater and does not introduce additional CO₂ emissions from the desulfurization reaction.

The company's technology reportedly achieves a sulfur dioxide removal efficiency of more than 99.5%, an ammonia recovery rate of at least 99%, and outlet particulate emissions below 5 mg/m³. Compared with conventional calcium-based systems, system power consumption can also be significantly reduced.

The technology can be particularly relevant for companies planning an FGD retrofit or upgrading an existing industrial air pollution control system. Existing desulfurization towers and related equipment can be reused where conditions permit, helping control investment costs and shorten the retrofit cycle.

Meanwhile, facilities equipped with SCR denitrification systems are also paying closer attention to ammonia slip. As requirements for flue gas denitrification and NOx control continue to evolve, integrated management of multiple pollutants is becoming increasingly important.

Mingsheng Environmental Protection has nearly two decades of experience in ammonia-based desulfurization and has applied its technology across power generation, chemical, steel, cement-related, carbon-material, papermaking, and coking projects.

For industrial operators, the shift toward resource-efficient air pollution control technologies may provide another pathway for maintaining long-term environmental compliance while reducing waste and operating costs.