He is mainly engaged in research on mineral activation for fertilizer production, preparation of heavy metal passivators, resource utilization of bulk industrial solid waste, characteristics and mechanisms of release and control technologies of gaseous pollutants such as atmospheric mercury and sulfur dioxide. Professor Shi Lin has been devoted to the research and development of comprehensive utilization of mineral resources and environmental protection science and technology, and has made lots of achievement, with a number of technologies adopted by enterprises, which have generated extensive economic, social and environmental benefits.
He has developed the technology of producing mineral soil conditioner (potassium-calcium-silica mineral fertilizer) with natural minerals such as potassium feldspar, dolomite and illite and industrial solid waste such as desulfurization gypsum, alkali slag, fly ash and stone offcuts as raw and auxiliary materials. This technology is the first innovative technology proposed to produce soil conditioner by mineral activation under medium temperature conditions (below 1000℃). In 2011, the technology has completed the pilot scale (109 tons of goods produced) of the provincial and ministerial level results appraisal, which was considered the first of its kind in China and has reached the international advanced level. In 2012, the project won the gold medal among more than 700 projects in the 8th "Challenge Cup" Guangdong University Entrepreneurship Plan Competition, and was awarded with the 6th "South Net Cup" Industrial Design Award". In 2014, the National Industrial Fund invested in the project. Yuan Longping rice experimental base decided to use the product to do further fertilizer efficiency tests. At present, the technology has been promoted and applied by three enterprises in Dongguan, Guizhou and Liaoning, with an annual output of 90,000 tons.
The heavy metal passivator technology has been developed, and the pilot test and technical achievement appraisal of the project have been completed. The project uses clay mineral activation technology to produce a series of soil heavy metal passivators, which can be used for the remediation of soil, water bodies, sludge, mines and sites contaminated by heavy metals. Project results through the third-party appraisal, the conclusion is the scientific and technological achievements of the "active natural mineral preparation passivation agent for the treatment of heavy metal pollution of soil technology for the principle of innovation. The results belong to the first technology in China, and the overall technical innovation is the principle innovation; it reaches the international leading level in the one-time adsorption of major heavy metal ions and retention rate at pH=3.5".
Development of flue gas desulfurization and mercury removal technology by alkali sulfide method to realize sulfur resource recycling. The method uses sulfuric alkali as raw material to absorb sulfur dioxide in coal-fired fuel flue gas, and by adding additives and controlling the reaction conditions, the absorption reaction proceeds in the direction of generating sodium thiosulfate, thus obtaining the industrial product, sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate (commonly known as Haibo). This technology achieves flue gas desulfurization and mercury removal at the same time to achieve the full recovery and utilization of sulfur resources. The pilot test results show that the flue gas desulfurization rate is as high as 99%, the by-product conversion rate is 93%, and it also has a good effect on gaseous mercury removal.