A MICROWAVE INDUCED PLASMA SPECTROMETER FOR REAL TIME ANALYSIS OF AIR TOXIC METALS IN FLUE GAS

THE CLEAN AIR ACT (CAA) AMENDMENTS OF 1990 DEFINED 189 INDIVIDUAL HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS THAT MUST BE MONITORED AND CONTROLLED. AT PRESENT, NO AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS FOR THE RELIABLE, REAL TIME ANALYSIS OF THE SEVERAL METALLIC SPECIES IDENTIFIED AS AIR TOXIC IN THIS REGULATION. THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REAL TIME TRACE ANALYSIS CAPABILITY COMPROMISES BOTH THE MONITORING AND THE CONTROL OF THIS CLASS OF POLLUTANTS. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL INSTRUMENT FOR THE IN-SITU ANALYSIS OF THE 11 AIR-TOXIC METALLIC SPECIES. THE SPECTROMETER PROVIDES REAL TIME, SIMULTANEOUS MONITORING OF CONCENTRATIONS OF THESE TOXIC SPECIES IN FLUE GASES AND OTHER PROCESS EMISSIONS. DATA FROM THE INSTRUMENT WILL BE USEFUL IN DEMONSTRATING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE AND IN CONTROLLING EMISSION WITH A VARIETY OF PARTICULATE MATTER AND VAPOR-CONTROL MODULES. THE PHASE I EFFORT IS CONCENTRATING ON THE ASSEMBLY OF THE INNOVATIVE LABORATORY INSTRUMENT FOLLOWED BY THE ANALYSIS OF AIR-TOXIC METAL COMPONENTS IN THE VAPOR STATE AND IN FLY ASH PARTICLES WITH THIS SYSTEM. THE STUDIES ARE DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE FUNDAMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF THE INSTRUMENT; RESULTS WILL THEN BE USED TO DESIGN THE PHASE II PROTOTYPE INSTRUMENT FOR FURTHER DEMONSTRATION OF THE ANALYTICAL CONCEPT AND SYSTEM.