The effects of limestone, Cl-, Fe 3+ and Mn 2+ in slurry on the characteristics of calcium sulfate dehydrate (DH) in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process were investigated. The moisture content, particle size distribution, and crystal morphology were considered as end use characteristics of DH. As a result, the number of needle-like DH crystals was increased with increasing total contents of MgCO 3 , Al 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 in limestone. Clions were reported to distort the crystal structure and change the crystals from orthorhombic to irregular. Mn 2+ can increase the desulfurization efficiency by catalyzing the oxidation of SO 2. Finally, Fe 3+ will inhibit crystal growth of all faces, except {011} and {1-11}.