A study of one potential use for wastes from dry desulfurization of fl
ue gas, namely removal of CO2 from natural gas, is reported. The CO2 a
bsorption capacity was evaluated at atmospheric temperature for FGD wa
stes from four utility boilers, a coal-fired demonstration plant and f
our pilot-plant runs. These samples were examined as both hydrated sol
ids and aqueous slurries. Capacities ranging up to similar to 55 m(3)
Mg-1 were measured for the hydrated samples and up to similar to 120 m
(3) Mg-1 for the slurries. The effect of hydration, absorption of CH4
and H2S, dissolution of metals in the slurry waters and mineralogical
changes in the exposed wastes were examined. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science
Ltd.