Novel Non-Carbon Sorbents for Mercury Removal from Coal-Fired Power Plants

Dry sorbent injection represents a new technology for removing mercury from coal-fired power plants. In this approach, the fine powder sorbent is carried along with the flue gas, trapped in an existing particulate control module (where the sorbent continues to contact the gas and absorb mercury), and then removed with the other particulates. The dry sorbent injection system must be low cost, have a high mercury capacity and good kinetcis, present no additional environmental problems in its own right, and be easily retrofitted into existing electric generators. This project will develop a new dry injection sorbent for mercury abatement, which will have significant cost and performance advantages over previous materials. In Phase I, new sorbents will be prepared and evaluated to select the best formulation. The optimum operating conditions for the sorbent will be identifed, and the impact of other flue gas components on its performance will be evaluated. An engineering analysis will be conducted to assess the cost of mercury removal with the new sorbent technology. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: This technology should find immediate use for mercury abatement in coal-fired power plants. The market size is very large; such power plants account for 60% of the electric power generated in the U.S.