Apparatus and method for removing sulfer dioxide from flue gases

An apparatus for removing sulfur dioxide from a flue gas, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a scrubbing chamber and a regeneration chamber separated from the scrubbing chamber by a separating wall having an open region to provide a hydraulic communication between the scrubbing chamber through a pool common for the scrubbing chamber and the regeneration chamber and comprising a molten eutectic mixture of lithium, sodium and potassium carbonates;
• the scrubbing chamber comprising:
• a flue gas inlet port configured for receiving an ingress flow of said flue gas, and a scrubbed gas outlet port configured for discharging an egress flow of a scrubbed gas from the scrubbing chamber;
• the scrubbing chamber being configured for scrubbing the flue gas by absorbing the sulfur dioxide in the pool to form a molten mixture of carbonates, sulfites and sulfates in the pool;
• the regeneration chamber being configured for producing a sulfur-containing vapor;
• and comprising a sulfur-containing vapor outlet port configured for controllable release of the sulfur-containing vapor obtained therein;
• and
• a sulfur-containing material collector coupled to said sulfur-containing vapor outlet port via a cooling manifold configured for cooling down said sulfur-containing vapor, and thereby converting said sulfur-containing vapor into a liquid and solid phase materials.