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PILOT-SCALE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION CATALYST ON MERCURY SPECIATION IN ILLINOIS AND POWDER RIVER BASIN COAL COMBUSTION FLUE GASES
Citation:
LEE, C. W., R. SRIVASTAVA, B. GHORISHI, J. KARWOWSKI, T. W. HASTINGS, AND J. C. HIRSCHI. PILOT-SCALE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION CATALYST ON MERCURY SPECIATION IN ILLINOIS AND POWDER RIVER BASIN COAL COMBUSTION FLUE GASES. T. Keener (ed.), JOURNAL OF AIR AND WASTE MANAGEMENT. Air & Waste Management Association, Pittsburgh, PA, Volume 56(5):643-649, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
to publish information
Description:
A study was conducted to investigate the effect of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst on mercury (Hg) speciation in bituminous and subbituminous coal combustion flue gases. Three different Illinois Basin bituminous coals (from high to low sulfur and chlorine) and one Powder River Basin (PRB) subbituminous coal with very low sulfur (S) and very low chlorine (Cl) were tested in a pilot-scale combustor equipped with a SCR reactor for controlling nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. The SCR catalyst induced high oxidation of elemental mercury (Hg0), decreasing the percentage of Hg0 at the outlet of the SCR to values below 12% for the three Illinois coal tests. The PRB coal test indicated a low oxidation of Hg0 by the SCR catalyst, with the percentage of Hg0 decreasing from about 96% at the inlet of the reactor to about 80% at the outlet. The test results indicate a strong effect dependent on coal type from the SCR on promoting Hg oxidation. The low chlorine content coupled with high alkalinity of the PRB coal limited the amount of chlorine available for Hg oxidation and resulting in low Hg oxidation occurring in SCR system.
