The application of magnesium hydroxide desulfurization in the shipping and petroleum fields has significant technical advantages and economic benefits.The specific application scenarios and characteristics are as follows:

I.Application in the Shipping Field

• Ship Exhaust Gas Cleaning System(EGCS)

• Magnesium hydroxide is used as a desulfurization agent in ship exhaust gas cleaning systems to neutralize sulfur oxides(SOx).The reaction equation is as follows:

The resulting magnesium sulfite can be further oxidized to magnesium sulfate,enabling the recovery of sulfur resources.For example,the magnesium-based desulfurization tower developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation has been applied to 14,000 TEU container ships,achieving a desulfurization efficiency of 97%.Moreover,the system's power consumption is reduced by 15%compared to the traditional sodium-based method.

• High-Sulfur Fuel Compatibility

• Magnesium hydroxide provides stable desulfurization effects for high-sulfur fuels(with sulfur content above 3.5%),especially suitable for ocean-going vessels operating outside Emission Control Areas(ECAs).Data from 2024 shows that about 30%of global desulfurization towers use magnesium-based methods,with Chinese products accounting for 15%of the total.

• Compact Equipment and Easy Maintenance

• Magnesium hydroxide slurry has good fluidity,and the equipment is less prone to scaling.The continuous operation rate of ship desulfurization systems exceeds 99%,and the maintenance cycle can be extended to over six months,significantly reducing operational costs.

II.Application in the Petroleum Field

• Refinery Flue Gas Desulfurization

• Sulfur-containing flue gases generated during the petroleum refining process(such as tail gases from catalytic cracking units)can be treated by wet desulfurization using magnesium hydroxide.For example,after adopting the magnesium hydroxide desulfurization process,a certain refinery reduced its SO₂ emission concentration from 2,000 mg/Nm³ to below 50 mg/Nm³,achieving a desulfurization efficiency of over 97%.

• High-Sulfur Crude Oil Processing

• For the processing of high-sulfur crude oils from regions like the Middle East,magnesium hydroxide desulfurization systems can handle flue gases with sulfur content ranging from 3%to 5%.The by-product,magnesium sulfate,has a purity of up to 98%and can be directly used in fertilizer production,achieving resource utilization.

• Offshore Oil Platform Applications

• The exhaust gases from gas turbines on offshore drilling platforms are treated with magnesium hydroxide desulfurization.Compared to calcium-based methods,the equipment volume is reduced by 30%,making it suitable for space-limited scenarios.Moreover,the treated wastewater meets discharge standards,preventing marine pollution.

III.Technical Advantages Comparison

IV.Future Development Directions

• Technological Integration

• Develop an integrated system of"magnesium hydroxide desulfurization+carbon capture,"suitable for LNG power retrofitting of ships and CCUS projects in refineries.

• Promotion of International Standards

• Promote the export of magnesium hydroxide desulfurization technology through the Belt and Road Initiative,focusing on expanding into regions with dense shipping and petrochemical industries,such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Case References:

• A certain refinery of Sinopec reduced its annual SO₂ emissions by 12,000 tons after adopting magnesium hydroxide desulfurization,with by-product revenue exceeding 8 million yuan.

• COSCO Shipping Group installed magnesium-based desulfurization towers on 50 ships,saving approximately 1.5 million US dollars per ship annually on low-sulfur fuel costs.