Abstract: The flue gases from a wet-operating flue gas desulfurization plant contain liquid droplets loaded with solid material. These can lead to incrustations which are hard to remove and to corrosion. Previously, in order to dry the droplets, the flow of flue gases was heated by unpurified crude gas, steam or hot water or indirectly by hot air. In order to use less energy in drying the droplets, it is now proposed that the drying energy for evaporating the liquid from the droplets is supplied to the gas flow in a channel by radiant energy from a radiator. The gas flow is only heated to such a degree that the water vapour and carbon dioxide contained in the gas flow selectively absorb radiation of certain wavelengths, while the liquid droplets directly absorb the necessary heat for evaporation. It is also possible for the radiant energy to be absorbed by an assembly which can be heated by radiation and which then releases energy into the gas flow.

Abstract: An improved process for the thermal stabilization of an acrylic fibrous material or film is provided. The fibrous precursor or film is impregnated with an organic antioxidant by contact with a solution of the same provided at a moderate temperature, dried to remove the solvent, and heated in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a more highly elevated temperature until a stabilized fibrous material or film is formed. The organic antioxidant advantageously serves to moderate the oxidative portion of the stabilization reaction and enables the cyclization portion thereof to proceed in the absence of substantial polymer chain degradation. The resulting stabilized fibrous material or film is flexible and non-burning, and may be utilized as a fire resistant fiber, fabric or film, or optionally carbonized or carbonized and graphitized to form a carbonaceous fibrous material or film.