Use Of Amended Silicates for Multi-Pollutant Control in Gasifiers

75570-Coal gasification is a promising technology for reducing U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources. However, the development of efficient and cost effective pollution control technologies will be required before coal gasification can be introduced on a commercial scale. In particular, the removal of sulfur species and trace metals (mercury, arsenic, and selenium) presents a technical and economic challenge. One approach for removing these gas-phase pollutants from gasifier product streams is the use of robust, multi-pollutant sorbents that can be applied at elevated temperature and pressure. Recently, a new class of sorbent materials, Amended Silicates, has been characterized for the removal of mercury (in both elemental and oxidized forms) in actual power plant flue gas and for capturing arsenic from drinking water. In this project, these sorbents will be adapted for gasifiers to control sulfur, mercury, arsenic, and selenium trace contaminants. In Phase I, sorbents with proven abilities to capture mercury, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen selenide, and arsine will be manufactured for laboratory and demonstration purposes. Tests will be conducted to quantify sorption capacities, using a simulated gasifier fuel gas that replicates the composition of gasifier product. A sorbent test bed will then be built and used to demonstrate the technology on a slipstream at an operating pilot-scale gasifier. In Phase II, the sorbent formulation will be optimized for low-cost manufacture. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The novel sorbent materials should provide a cost-effective technology for removing gas-phase contaminants from the hot fuel gas stream in coal gasification systems, removing an important hurdle in the deployment of this technology.