Process for enhancing the sulfur capture capability of an alkaline earth material

The present invention provides, according to one aspect thereof, a computer controlled process for reducing SO2 from a flue gas. The process includes the basic steps of providing an aqueous treatment solution containing an inorganic salt and a control unit for controlling the introduction of the aqueous treatment solution containing an inorganic salt and controlling the control unit in response to a computer program to effect introduction of the aqueous treatment solution into contact with alkaline earth material. Thereafter, the process includes heating the alkaline earth material in the presence of the flue gas containing SO2 to remove the SO2. The alkaline earth material may be limestone or dolomite. The inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of thermally decomposable sodium compounds including sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium nitrate, and sodium acetate. In selected applications of the process of the present invention, the inorganic sodium compound has a concentration of between 0.05 to 5 percent of the limestone or dolomite. In preferred applications of the method, the inorganic sodium compound has a concentration of between 0.05 to 1 percent of the limestone or dolomite.