Hot gas desulphurisation using liquid tin.

Present integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) systems demonstrate high /stem efficiency and impressive environmental performance, giving them an edge over conventional pulverised fuel power stations. A key area in the development of IGCC is hot fuel gas clean-up (HGCU). Fuel gas cleaning at elevated temperatures reduces thermal efficiency losses associated with gas quenching in conventional coal gas cleaning methods. The current hot gas clean-up method centres on the use of metal oxide sorbents for sulphur removal and the utilisation of a ceramic barrier filter for particulate cleaning. A fresh and radical approach may provide the key to overcoming the inherent limitations associated with metal oxide sorbents.