Patent ID: 8262385

Claim:
A process for combustion of heavy oil residues with a low emission of SO x comprising: heating the heavy oil residues at a temperature at least equal to a softening point of the heavy oil residues; preparing a dispersion of the heated heavy oil residues in water, and combusting the dispersion of the heavy oil residues in water; wherein the heavy oil residues have a softening point higher than 25° C., and wherein the dispersion of the heavy oil residues in water comprises: one or more dispersing agents selected from organic sulfonates of alkali metals or of ammonium; one or more desulfurizing agents selected from the group consisting of CaCO 3 , MgCO 3 , dolomite and relative mixtures; and one or more desulfurizing agents with stabilizing and anticorrosive properties selected from the group consisting of MgO, Mg (OH) 2 , CaO, Ca(OH) 2 and relative mixtures; wherein the dispersion of heavy oil residue in water has a water content of at least 15%, the dispersing agent in the form of the sodium salt has the following properties: (A) a sulfur content of at least 10% by weight; (B) a solubility in water at 20° C. of at least 15% by weight; (C) a reduction in the surface tension in water, at a concentration of 1% by weight, lower than 10%; the desulfurizing agents are present in a quantity ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 moles with respect to the sulfur contained in the heavy oil residue, and the desulfurizing agents with stabilizing and anticorrosive properties are present in a quantity ranging from 0.04% by weight to 0.4% by weight with respect to the total suspension.