A sodium-zinc sorbent based flue gas desulfurization technology (Na-Zn-FGD) was proposed based on the experiments and analyses of the thermal decomposition characteristics of CaSO3 and ZnSO3 center dot 2.5H(2)O, the waste products of calcium-based semi-dry and zinc-based flue gas desulfurization (Ca-SD-FGD and Zn-SD-FGD) technologies, respectively. It was found that ZnSO3 center dot 2.5H(2)O first lost crystal H2O at 100 degrees C and then decomposed into SO2 and solid ZnO at 260 degrees C in the air, while CaSO3 is oxidized at 450 degrees C before it decomposed in the air. The experimental results confirm that Zn-SD-FGD technology is good for SO2 removal and recycling, but with problem in clogging and high operational cost. The proposed Na-Zn-FGD is clogging proof, and more cost-effective. In the new process, Na2CO3 is used to generate Na2SO3 for SO2 absorption, and the intermediate product NaHSO3 reacts with ZnO powders, producing ZnSO3 center dot 2.5H(2)O precipitate and Na2SO3 solution. The Na2SO3 solution is clogging proof, which is re-used for SO2 absorption. By thermal decomposition of ZnSO3 center dot 2.5H(2)O, ZnO is re-generated and SO2 with high purity is co-produced as well. The cycle consumes some amount of raw material Na2CO3 and a small amount of ZnO only. The newly proposed FGD technology could be a substitute of the traditional semi-dry FGD technologies. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.