Patent ID: 7780932

Claim:
A process for desulfurizing an SO 2 -comprising gaseous stream comprising the steps of: a. providing an aqueous feed comprising an anion selected from a group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide, sulfite, and hydrogen sulfite; b. providing an SO 2 -comprising gaseous feed; and c. contacting said aqueous feed and said gaseous feed to generate a desulfurized gaseous product comprising less than 40% of the feed SO 2 content, and an aqueous product; wherein said contacting is carried out in a cyclone unit comprising a housing defined by a cylindrical peripheral wall and provided with at least one inlet opening for receiving fluids thereinto and with at least one swirling means, and wherein the velocity of said gaseous stream inside said cyclone unit is between 60 m/sec and 100 m/sec.