Enhanced effects of ash and slag on SO₃ formation in the post-flame region

The effects of slag, fly ash (formed in boiler above 1500 °C), and experimental ash (formed in muffle furnace at 815 °C) on the formation of sulfur trioxide (SO₃) were studied in a fixed bed rector. The results showed that the slag had the best catalytic effect on SO₃ formation, the effect of fly ash was second, and the effect of experimental ash was the worst. The reason may be that the forms of iron in different samples were different. Iron in the experimental ash all existed in the form of Fe₂O₃. Iron in the fly ash mainly existed in the form of composite iron oxides, such as Fe_0.3Mg_0.7SiO₃, Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃, and MgFe₂O₄. Iron in the slag also mainly existed in the form of composite iron oxides, such as CaFe₂O₄, MgFe₂O₄, and CaMgO_0.88Fe_0.12SiO₄. The different forms of iron had different effects on SO₃ formation. Composite iron oxides could produce more oxygen vacancies owing to lattice defects. This likely promoted the migration and regeneration of lattice oxygen and thus better promoted the formation of SO₃ than Fe₂O₃. Moreover, MgFe₂O₄ and Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃ could better promote SO₃ formation than CaMgO_0.88Fe_0.12SiO₄ and Fe_0.3Mg_0.7SiO₃. In addition, increasing the SO₂ concentration and O₂ concentration increased the SO₃ concentration but increasing the SO₂ concentration decreased the SO₃ formation ratio.