(547d) Application of Ion Selective Electrodes (ISEs) for Real Time Monitoring of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) Wastewater

Coal-fired power plant produces a significant amount of SO₂ as well as heavy metals during operation. Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) plays a very important role in this regard to reduce the emission of SO₂ and heavy metals into the environment. However, FGD process produces wastewater during the process which contains these harmful elements. So, it is necessary to treat this wastewater and observe the concentration of targeted species according to the EPA guidelines before releasing in the environment.

Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) can act as an important tool to continuously monitor the wastewater discharge for targeted species. ISE is considered as a sensor that can detect targeted species by converting the movement of those species in a dissolved solution into an electric potential. However, to implement ISEs for wastewater monitoring, it is necessary to evaluate their features over a large range of conditions.

This aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of several ISEs that can be utilized in FGD wastewater treatment plant. Calcium, chloride, nitrate, and nitrite ISEs were calibrated in a broad range of concentrations. Multi-parameter regressions found that each ISE fits well over a wide range of concentrations with various temperatures and ionic strength interactions. Based on the laboratory experimental data a robust sensor module with multiple ISEs will be built, calibrated, and tested at a real coal fired power plant.