Calculating Calcium Carbonate Required for Sulfur Dioxide Removal from Coal Combustion

When coal is burned, sulfur within it reacts to produce sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is a significant air pollutant. To address this issue, various chemical reactions can be employed. One common method involves the reaction between calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and SO2 to form calcium sulfate (CaSO3) and carbon dioxide (CO2). This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to determine the mass of calcium carbonate required to effectively remove the sulfur dioxide produced from burning coal.

Step-by-Step Calculation

Let's consider a scenario where we have 569 kg of coal containing 1.0% sulfur by mass. We will go through the process of calculating the mass of calcium carbonate required to react with the sulfur dioxide produced from this coal.

Step 1: Calculate the Mass of Sulfur in the Coal

Given that the coal contains 1.0% sulfur by mass, we can calculate the mass of sulfur as follows:

Mass of sulfur Total mass of coal × Percentage of sulfur text{Mass of sulfur} 569 text{ kg} × 0.01 5.69 text{ kg}

Step 2: Determine the Amount of Sulfur Dioxide Produced

The combustion of sulfur produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) according to the following equation: u2192 text{SO}_2 From the equation, 1 mole of sulfur (S) produces 1 mole of sulfur dioxide (SO2). The molar mass of sulfur (S) is approximately 32.07 g/mol. We first need to convert the mass of sulfur to moles:

Moles of sulfur Mass of sulfur / Molar mass of sulfur text{Moles of sulfur} frac{5690 text{ g}}{32.07 text{ g/mol}} approx 177.41 text{ mol}

Since 1 mole of sulfur produces 1 mole of sulfur dioxide, the moles of SO2 produced are also approximately 177.41 mol.

Step 3: Calculate the Mass of Calcium Carbonate Required

The reaction between sulfur dioxide and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) can be represented as follows:

text{CaCO}_3 text{SO}_2 rightarrow text{CaSO}_3 text{CO}_2

According to the balanced equation, 1 mole of CaCO3 reacts with 1 mole of SO2. To determine the mass of CaCO3 required, we first need to calculate its molar mass:

Molar mass of CaCO3 Molar mass of Ca Molar mass of C 3 × Molar mass of O 40.08 text{ g/mol} 12.01 text{ g/mol} 3 × 16.00 text{ g/mol} 100.09 text{ g/mol}

Next, we calculate the mass of CaCO3 needed:

Mass of CaCO3 Moles of SO2 × Molar mass of CaCO3 text{Mass of CaCO3} 177.41 text{ mol} × 100.09 text{ g/mol} approx 17756.8 text{ g} approx 17.76 text{ kg}

Conclusion

Based on the calculations, approximately 17.76 kg of calcium carbonate is required to react with the sulfur dioxide produced from burning 569 kg of coal containing 1.0% sulfur by mass.

Additional Considerations and Tips

1. **Precision and Accuracy**: Ensure precise measurements and calculations to minimize errors and ensure environmental compliance.

2. **Reaction Efficiency**: Factors such as temperature, pressure, and presence of catalysts can affect the efficiency of the reaction.

3. **Environmental Impact**: While this method is effective, it is crucial to consider the overall environmental impact of the treatment process.

In conclusion, understanding and applying these calculations can help in formulating effective strategies for managing sulfur dioxide emissions from coal combustion.