Abstract
Stringent pollution control requirements imposed by regulatory agencies have accelerated the installation of limestone-based flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) systems in coal-fired power plants. This trend toward increasing numbers of FGD units is expected to continue into the future as long as coal remains a viable source of fuel for generating electricity. Because of the importance of high-calcium limestone as a scrubbing agent in FGD systems, it is essential that issues associated with the transport, availability, and suitability of high-calcium limestone resources be addressed. Nearby sources of suitable limestone raw material must be found to feed existing and new scrubber installations and to aid in the selection of proper resources for desulfurization systems in the future. Illinois has abundant limestone and dolomite resources; however, high-calcium limestone is not readily available throughout the state. The suitability of high-calcium limestone for FGD applications also varies, and the most suitable limestone resources are not widely available. The Illinois State Geological Survey conducted a statewide study through a grant from the Illinois Clean Coal Institute to inventory and characterize high-calcium limestone resources. This paper provides a brief overview of the distribution and properties of existing and potential high-calcium limestone resources in Illinois. A more detailed report on the location and characteristics of these high-calcium limestone resources will appear in a subsequent publication.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 47th forum on the Geology of industrial minerals |
| Editors | Zakaria Lasemi |
| Publisher | Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute |
| Pages | 153-164 |
| State | Published - 2015 |