Regenerative Activated Coke Process for Simultaneous SO2 and NOx Removal from Sintering Flue Gas

Abstract

The emission of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) from sintering flue gas in iron and steel industries contributes significantly to atmospheric pollution, acid rain formation, photochemical smog, and adverse public health impacts. The present study investigates the performance of a regenerative activated coke process for the simultaneous removal of SO₂ and NOₓ from industrial sintering flue gas under varying operational conditions. The research evaluates adsorption efficiency, catalytic reduction behavior, regeneration characteristics, and process stability to determine the feasibility of activated coke as an integrated multipollutant control technology. Experimental analysis demonstrates that the porous structure and high surface activity of activated coke facilitate effective adsorption of sulfur compounds and catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in the presence of reducing agents. The influence of flue gas temperature, gas flow rate, moisture content, adsorption bed configuration, and regeneration cycles on pollutant removal efficiency is systematically examined. Results indicate that optimized operating conditions significantly enhance desulfurization and denitrification performance while maintaining low energy consumption and stable long-term operation. The regenerative capability of activated coke enables repeated reuse with minimal decline in adsorption capacity, thereby reducing operational costs and secondary waste generation compared with conventional treatment methods. Furthermore, the integrated process demonstrates improved environmental performance through simultaneous pollutant control and potential recovery of sulfur-containing byproducts. Comparative assessment confirms that regenerative activated coke technology offers an efficient and sustainable approach for advanced flue gas purification in metallurgical industries.