Sorption of SO2 on Ground Nahcolite Ore

Large quantities of nahcolite ore, a naturally occurring mineral containing between 70 and 90% sodium bicarbonate are known to occur in the Green River Formation of the Piceance Creek Basin of northwestern Colorado.¹ Deposits occur in two major forms, as either bedded or disseminated ore. In the latter case, the host rock is oil shale, a dolomitic marlstone containing kerogen material. Bench and pilot scale studies have shown finely divided nahcolite ore to be an effective SO₂ sorbent in baghouse filters.² These studies form the basis of the nahcolite ore injection process as a means for controlling SO₂ emissions to the environment.³ Although there have been published investigations of reactions of SO₂ with Na₂CO₃and NaHCO_3, ⁴ no reference could be found to a systematic study of nahcolite ore reacting with SO₂.