Skip to main content
Log in

A Review on Desulfurization Technologies of Blast Furnace Gases

  • Air Pollution (H Zhang and Y Sun, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Pollution Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The blast furnace gas, a low-calorific value fuel, is worthy of recycling. However, the sulfuric contents in blast furnace gases would cause pipeline corrosion and air pollution that are adverse to reutilization of blast furnace gases. Therefore, desulfurization technologies of blast furnace gas are necessary, which have been recently attracting much attention. This article clarifies main sources and forms of sulfur in blast furnace gases. Then, COS/H2S removal methods that are commonly used are introduced. In fact, blast furnace gases usually exist in low-temperature and low-pressure conditions, whose major components are N2/CO/CO2/H2 and minor components are sulfide/chloride. When blast furnace gases are used as a fuel, the sulfuric component will be converted into SO2 that causes severe air pollution to atmospheric environments. However, according to recent findings, once sulfides are removed ahead of the utilization process of blast furnace gases, other air-polluting components (e.g., hydrogen chloride) could be also removed via synergistic effects. In light of these characteristics, this article discusses the feasibility of various desulfurization methods suitable for blast furnace gases with the aim to provide useful information for the development of blast furnace gas desulfurization technologies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. •• Guo Y-H. Current station and tendency of purification and upgrading of blast furnace gas. J Iron Steel Res. 2020;32(7):525–531. This reference firstly introduces many purification methods of blast furnace gas used in industries for now. Then, this reference speculates some possible development tendency of blast furnace gas purification.

  2. Wang Y, Lei X, Deng L, et al. A review on utilization of combustible waste gas (I): blast furnace gas, converter gas and coke oven gas. Therm Power Gen. 2014;43(07):1–9+14.

  3. • Deng B, Yan X, Peng B, et al. Analysis of corrosion in blast furnace gas pipes and anticorrosion measures. Metallurgical Power. 2018;2018(09):13–16+21. This paper in detail theoretically explains how blast furnace gas gets pipes in steel plants corroded, which is exactly the most crucial background of this manuscript. In the meantime, some thoughts of this paper provides some other possible methods of removing sulfur as references.

  4. Hui C, Chang-shui W, Jian-long W, et al. Discussion on evaluation of dechlorination effect for alkali liquor spray scrubber after BF dry dust-catch. Iron Steel. 2019;54(02):31–4.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zhang X-S, Xu M, Wu J-L, et al. Sulfur analysis and measures for reducing sulfur in ironmaking process of Shougang Jingtang. Iron Steel. 2018;54(03):18–22.

  6. Zhang W, Zhang X, Zheng M. Sulfur form of metallurgical coke influence on sulfur in blast furnace gas. Energy Metall Ind. 2019;38(2):55–59.

  7. Meng Y, Zhongyi A, Zhifeng L, et al. Research and application of fine desulfurization system of blast furnace gas in iron and steel enterprises. Energy Metall Ind. 2021;40(01):61–4.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Liu JH. Advances of carbonyl sulfide removal at lower and ordinary temperature. Chin J Chem Eng. 2013;41(19):22–24+48.

  9. Ewing SP, Lockshon D, Jencks WP. Mechanism of cleavage of carbamate anions. J Am Chem Soc. 1980;102(9):3072–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Littel RJ, Versteeg GF, Swaaij W. Kinetics of COS with primary and secondary amines in aqueous solutions. AIChE J. 1992;38(2):244–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Littel RJ, Versteeg GF, Swaaij WV. Kinetic study of COS with tertiary alkanolamine solutions. 1. Experiments in an intensely stirred batch reactor. Ind Eng Chem Res. 1992;31(5):1262–1269.

  12. Hani AA, Gabriel RI, Orville CS. Absorption of carbonyl sulfide in aqueous methyl diethanolamine. Chem Eng Sci. 1989;44(3):631–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee SC, Snodgrass MJ, Park MK, et al. Kinetics of removal of carbonyl sulfide by aqueous monoethanolamine. Environ Sci Technol. 2001;35(11):2352–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Seagraves J. Sulfur removal in amino plants. Hydrocarbon Eng. 2001;12(4):47–52.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ming KE, Dong CHEN, Qi FENG, et al. Research progress on the reaction mechanism and reaction kinetics of carbonyl sulfide and alcohol amine solution. Sci Tech Chem Ind. 2014;22(06):71–4.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Niu G, Huang Y, Wang J. Application of the cool methanol absorption technology to the natural gas purification process. Nat Gas Cheml Ind. 2003(2):26–29.

  17. Hongyan W, Hong-hong Y, Xiaolong T, et al. Development of Carbonyl Sulfide Removal. Chem Ind Eng. 2010;27(01):67–72.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Zhang J, Li X, Wang S, et al. The research of removing COS at low temperature by modified active carbon. Liaoning Chem Ind. 1998;3:103–104.

  19. Fang L, Zhang Y, Zhou J, et al. Study on simultaneous removal of COS and H2S from carbon dioxide by activated carbon fiber. Chin J Chem Eng. 2008;33(2):25–31

  20. Zhengxi LI. Removal of organic sulfur from refinery LPG. Petroleum Proces Petrochem. 1996;11:27–30.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wang X, Ding L, Zhao Z. Novel hydrode sulfurization nano-catalyzers derived from Co3O4 nanocrystals with different shapes. Catal Today. 2011;175(1):509–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Xinxue L, Yingxin L, Xionghui W. Technology for carbonyl sulfide removal. Modern Chem Ind. 2004;08:19–22.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Caixia D. Application techniques of organic sulfur hydroconversion catalysts. Ind Catal. 2003;09:13–7.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bachelier J, Aboulayt A, Lavalley JC, et al. Activity of different metal oxides towards COS hydrolysis. Effect of SO2 and sulfation. Catal Today. 1993;17:55–62

  25. He E, Huang G, Fan H, et al. Macroporous alumina- and titania-based catalyst for carbonyl sulfide hydrolysis at ambient temperature. Fuel. 2019;246:277–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Fiedorow R, Léauté R, Lana IGD. A study of the kinetics and mechanism of COS hydrolysis over alumina. J Catal. 1984;85(2):339–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Li K, Wang C, Ning P, et al. Surface characterization of metal oxides-supported activated carbon fiber catalysts for simultaneous catalytic hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide. Res J Environ Sci. 2020;10.

  28. Ping NING, Lili YU, Honghong YI, et al. Effect of Fe/Cu/Ce loading on the coal-based activated carbons for hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide. J Rare Earths. 2010;2:205–10.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Yi H, Zhao S, Tang X, et al. Influence of calcination temperature on the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide over hydrotalcite-derived Zn–Ni–Al catalyst. Catal Commun. 2011;12(15):1492–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hongyan W, Honghong Y, Xiaolong T, et al. Catalytic hydrolysis of COS over calcined CoNiAl hydrotalcite-like compounds modified by cerium. Appl Clay Sci. 2012;70:8–13.

  31. Williams BP, Young NC, West J, et al. Carbonyl sulphide hydrolysis using alumina catalysts. Catal Today. 1999;49(1–3):99–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Akimoto M, Lana I. Role of reduction sites in vapor-phase hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide over alumina catalysts. J Catal. 1980;62(1):84–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hoggan PE, Aboulayt A, Pieplu A, et al. Mechanism of COS hydrolysis on alumina. J Catal. 1994;149(2):300–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Liu J, Liu Y, Xue L, et al. Oxygen poisoning mechanism of catalytic hydrolysis of OCS over Al2O3 at room temperature. Acta Phys Chim Sin. 2007;23(7):997–1002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Rhodes C, Riddel SA, West J, et al. The low-temperature hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide: a review. Catal Today. 2000;59(3–4):443–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kailasa SK, Koduru JR, Vikrant K, et al. Recent progress on solution and materials chemistry for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from various gas plants. J Mol Liq. 2020;297:111886.

  37. Jun W. Study on sulfur recovery technology by Claus process. Fuel Chem Process. 2020;51(04):48–51.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Wang R, Shi G, Wei W, et al. Methods of removing hydrogen sulfide from industrial gaspresent situation and prospects. Nat Gas Ind. 199;03:97–103+12–13

  39. Zheng S, Zhuang G, Wu Z. Studies on bacterial desulfurization of the h2s-containing industrial gases. Acta Microbiol Sin. 1993;33(03):192–198.

  40. Zhang J, Yi H, Ning P, et al. Advances of the study on absorption technology of hydrogen sulfide. Tech Eq Environ Pol Cont. 2002;06:47–52.

  41. Xiang LI, Xueqian WANG, Pengfei LI, et al. Characteristic components analysis of blast furnace gas and its influence on desulfurization process. Chem Ind Eng Prog. 2021;40:6629–39.

    Google Scholar 

  42. • Zhang B, Xue Q, Niu D, et al. Current situation of blast furnace gas utilization and new technologies for energy saving and emission reduction. Ironmaking. 2018;37(2):51–55. This reference introduces how to simultaneously achieve energy saving and emission reduction, which is the next development tendency of blast furnace gas utilization. What is more, some technologies of this reference is the ongoing research core of blast furnace gas for steel plants.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuqun Zhuo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

There is no known competing interest (personal or institutional) to declare.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

It is solemnly stated that this study does not involve anything about human subjects (or related to animals) nor allude to anything of inhumanity.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Air Pollution

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, P., Wang, G., Dong, Y. et al. A Review on Desulfurization Technologies of Blast Furnace Gases. Curr Pollution Rep 8, 189–200 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-022-00212-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-022-00212-z

Keywords

Navigation