Use of Novel, Low-Cost Additives to Improve Sorbent Efficiency for Control of Mercury Emissions in Coal-Fired Power Plant Flue Gases

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Use of Novel, Low-Cost Additives to Improve Sorbent Efficiency for Control of Mercury Emissions in Coal-Fired Power Plant Flue Gases--Physical Sciences Inc., 20 New England Business Center, Andover, MA 01810-1022;
Mr. Joseph R. Morency, Principal Investigator
Mr. George E. Caledonia, Business Official
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER82456
Amount: $74,996

Although coal-fired power plants are not yet specifically targeted for control of mercury emissions under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, regulation for mercury may be implemented in the near future. The methods currently in use to control mercury emissions in waste incinerators are not expected to be as effective for mercury reduction in fossil fuel-fired utility plants due to differences in the amount and the forms of mercury found in the respective flue gases. More accurate methods are needed to measure and processes to control mercury emissions in these plants. This project is to develop a low cost, enhanced mercury sorbent for mercury removal in powerplant flue gases. This is aimed at realizing a substantial cost reduction over currently envisioned mercury control processes. In this Phase I program, the use of a low cost additive to improve the capability of various sorbents such as activated carbon or minerals to remove all forms of mercury vapor from the flue gases will be investigated in the laboratory. The effects of various sorbent parameters such as surface area and composition will be compared, and the reusability of the best-performing sorbent, a feature that may have a significant cost impact, will be analyzed. In Phase II, the effectiveness of the treated sorbent will be demonstrated on a pilot-scale coal combustor in a series of tests that will determine parameters to be used as input for a full-scale process design.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: Achievement of high capture efficiencies for all mercury species would allow the treated sorbent injection system to be integrated into all types of power plant pollution control systems with a minimum addition of plant equipment. Given the fact that there are approximately 1750 fossil fuel fired power plants operating in the U.S. that may be subject to regulation of toxic metals in the future, it is evident that a sizable market is available upon successful completion of this Phase I project and commercial development in Phases II and III. The methodology also has potential application to smelter, integrated gasification combined cycle plants, and other industrial processes.