skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Task 2.8 -- Mercury speciation and capture in scrubber solutions. Semi-annual report, July 1--December 31, 1996

Abstract

Investigations into mercury control across conventional scrubber systems have precipitated questions concerning (1) the initial speciation between oxidized and elemental forms of mercury in flue gas from coal-fired boilers and, subsequently, (2) the effects of scrubber slurry composition and pH on the mercury forms. Mercury capture in scrubber slurry is highly dependent on its form. Oxidized mercury is highly water-soluble and can be removed by scrubber slurry, whereas elemental mercury is not and passes through the scrubber to the stack. The objectives of this project are to determine whether scrubber solutions convert either form of mercury to another and whether mercury capture is affected by pH.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
North Dakota Univ., Energy and Environmental Research Center, Grand Forks, ND (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
650106
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/30097-5582
ON: DE97002229; TRN: AHC2DT04%%17
DOE Contract Number:
FC21-93MC30097
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Aug 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS; 01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; PROGRESS REPORT; MERCURY; AIR POLLUTION CONTROL; MERCURY OXIDES; SCRUBBERS; PROCESS SOLUTIONS; SORPTIVE PROPERTIES; PH VALUE; FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS

Citation Formats

Ness, S.R.. Task 2.8 -- Mercury speciation and capture in scrubber solutions. Semi-annual report, July 1--December 31, 1996. United States: N. p., 1997. Web. doi:10.2172/650106.
Copy to clipboard
Ness, S.R.. Task 2.8 -- Mercury speciation and capture in scrubber solutions. Semi-annual report, July 1--December 31, 1996. United States. doi:10.2172/650106.
Copy to clipboard
Ness, S.R.. Fri . "Task 2.8 -- Mercury speciation and capture in scrubber solutions. Semi-annual report, July 1--December 31, 1996". United States. doi:10.2172/650106. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/650106.
Copy to clipboard
@article{osti_650106,
title = {Task 2.8 -- Mercury speciation and capture in scrubber solutions. Semi-annual report, July 1--December 31, 1996},
author = {Ness, S.R.},
abstractNote = {Investigations into mercury control across conventional scrubber systems have precipitated questions concerning (1) the initial speciation between oxidized and elemental forms of mercury in flue gas from coal-fired boilers and, subsequently, (2) the effects of scrubber slurry composition and pH on the mercury forms. Mercury capture in scrubber slurry is highly dependent on its form. Oxidized mercury is highly water-soluble and can be removed by scrubber slurry, whereas elemental mercury is not and passes through the scrubber to the stack. The objectives of this project are to determine whether scrubber solutions convert either form of mercury to another and whether mercury capture is affected by pH.},
doi = {10.2172/650106},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997},
month = {Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1997}
}
Copy to clipboard
Technical Report:
View Technical Report (0.46 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/650106
Save / Share:
Export Metadata
Save to My Library
You must Sign In or Create an Account in order to save documents to your library.

  • Investigations into mercury control across conventional scrubber systems have precipitated questions concerning (1) the initial speciation between oxidized and elemental forms of mercury in flue gas from coal-fired boilers and subsequently, (2) the effects of scrubber slurry composition and pH on the mercury forms. Mercury capture in scrubber slurry is highly dependent on its own form. Oxidized mercury is highly water-soluble and can be removed by scrubber slurry, whereas elemental mercury is not and passes through the scrubber to the stack. The objectives of this project are to determine whether scrubber solutions convert either form of mercury to another andmore » whether mercury capture is affected by pH.« less

  • Determining the fly ash properties responsible for the capture of mercury in coal-fired power generation systems is key to understanding and controlling mercury emissions in these systems. Several capture mechanisms and interactions may be possible, such as condensation, chemical adsorption, physical adsorption, chemical bonding, and amalgamation. The chemical nature of the exposed surfaces and the amount of surface area are likely to affect the amount of mercury capture, so both of these parameters must be explored. Since much of the fly ash surface area is concentrated on submicron particles, the interaction of mercury with submicron particles needs to be evaluated.more » Another possible explanation of mercury capture on fly ash is the formation of amalgams with other metal species that may be present in the fly ash; if this is true, amalgamation may be a viable control technology. The project objectives are to relate mercury capture by fly ash to chemical and physical properties of the fly ash, determine mercury associations with submicron aerosols, evaluate mercury capture on metal sorbents, and relate experimental results to predictions based on state-of-the-art models. Results to date on these activities are described.« less

  • The objectives of the hot-gas cleanup (HGC) work on the transport reactor demonstration unit (TRDU) located at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) is to demonstrate acceptable performance of hot-gas filter elements in a pilot-scale system prior to long-term demonstration tests. The primary focus of the experimental effort in the 3-year project is the testing of hot-gas filter element performance (particulate collection efficiency, filter pressure differential, filter cleanability, and durability) as a function of temperature and filter face velocity during short term operation (100-200 hours). The filter vessel is used in combination with the TRDU to evaluate the performancemore » of selected hot-gas filter elements under gasification operating conditions. This work directly supports the power systems development facility utilizing the M.W. Kellogg transport reactor located at Wilsonville, Alabama and, indirectly, the Foster Wheeler advanced pressurized fluid-bed combustor, also located at Wilsonville.« less

  • This paper very briefly summarizes progress in the demonstration of a small (up to 6 MWe), environmentally acceptable electric generating system fueled by indigenous fuels and waste materials to serve power distribution systems typical of Alaskan Native communities. Two detailed appendices supplement the report. The project is focused on two primary technologies: (1) atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC), and (2) coalbed methane and coal-fired diesel technologies. Two sites have been selected as possible locations for an AFBC demonstration, and bid proposals are under review. The transfer of a coal-fired diesel clean coal demonstration project from Maryland to Fairbanks, Alaska wasmore » approved, and the environmental assessment has been initiated. Federal support for a fuel cell using coalbed methane is also being pursued. The appendices included in the report provide: (1) the status of the conceptual design study for a 600-kWe coal-fired cogeneration plant in McGrath, Alaska; and (2) a global market assessment of coalbed methane, fluidized-bed combustion, and coal-fired diesel technologies in remote applications.« less

  • As directed by the EERC senior management, activities during the reporting period have focused on research in support of the development of a series of white papers dealing with the status and future direction of select areas of environmental policy. These areas include (1) brownfields, (2) onshore solid waste management, (3) water related policy, (4) climate change, (5) nuclear facility cleanup and waste disposition, and (6) air emissions. Each white paper is designed to consist of two parts: (1) a summary of status and future directions and (2) an evaluation of a select group of key issues. The EERC believesmore » that energy and environmental issues are inseparable and the environmental policy evaluations are considered to be a continuation of the activities begun at the EERC in 1989 focused on the assessment of trends and policies affecting energy industries. The conclusions reached are our own, based on a broad list of sources with certain findings attributed by reference.« less