Method and apparatus for reagent recovery in a flue gas processing system

A process for removal of gaseous contaminants including CO2, SOX, from a flue gas stream, the process comprising:

• contacting the flue gas stream with an aqueous ammonia solution in a direct contact cooling device to form an ammoniated sulfate stream;
• forwarding the flue gas stream from the direct contact cooling device to a CO2 absorption device;
• contacting the flue gas stream in the CO2 absorption device with an ammoniated solution or slurry to form a CO2 depleted flue gas stream comprising ammonia and a CO2-rich solution or slurry;
• forwarding the CO2 depleted flue gas stream comprising ammonia to a water wash device to form a CO2 depleted flue gas stream comprising residual ammonia and a used water wash stream;
• forwarding the CO2 depleted flue gas stream comprising residual ammonia to a direct contact heating device;
• contacting the CO2 depleted flue gas stream comprising residual ammonia in the direct contact heating device with sulfuric acid to form an ammoniated sulfate stream and a cleaned flue gas stream;
• releasing the cleaned flue gas stream to atmosphere;
• providing a slip stream from the CO2 absorption device to a bipolar membrane electrodialysis unit;
• and
• regenerating an aqueous ammonia solution and sulfuric acid from the ammoniated sulfate stream from the direct contact cooling device and the ammoniated sulfate stream from the direct contact heating device to the bipolar membrane electrodialysis unit to form a regenerated ammonium hydroxide stream, a regenerated sulfuric acid stream and a water stream.