The fate of mercury in coal utilization byproducts

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · EM - Environmental Manager

OSTI ID:20638580

Aljoe, William; Feeley, Thomas; Murphy, James; Brickett, Lynn ^[1]

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1. US Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (US)

The US Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory's (DOE/NETL's) research has helped to further scientific understanding of the environmental characteristics of coal-utilization by-products (CUBs) in both disposal and beneficial utilization applications. The following general observations can be drawn from results of the research that has been carried out to date: There appears to be only minimal mercury release to the environment in typical disposal or utilization applications for CUBs generated using activated carbon injection (ACI) control technologies; There appears to be only minimal mercury release to the environment in typical disposal and utilization applications for CUBs generated using wet FGD control technologies. The potential release of mercury from wet FGD gypsum during the manufacture of wallboard is still under evaluation; The amount of mercury leached from CUB samples tested by DOE/NETL is significantly lower than the federal drinking water standards and water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life; in many cases, leachate concentrations were below the standard test method detection limits. DOE/NETL will continue to partner with industry and other key stakeholders in carrying out research to better understand the fate of mercury and other trace elements in the byproducts from coal combustion. 16 refs., 6 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 20638580
• Journal Information: EM - Environmental Manager, Journal Name: EM - Environmental Manager; ISSN 1079-7343
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORPTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
BIODEGRADATION
BY-PRODUCTS
COAL
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
COORDINATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
DESULFURIZATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLUE GAS
FLY ASH
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
GYPSUM
LEACHING
MERCURY
PARTICULATES
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
TRACE AMOUNTS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION