Impact/Purpose:

The specific objective of this study is to demonstrate the simultaneous removal by limestone slurry of mercury (Hg?) and chlorine with chlorine injection to the flue gas. In addition, the overall gas phase mass transfer coefficient for mercury removal by chlorine injection will be measured at field conditions.

Combustion of coal and of municipal solid waste releases mercury (Hg) and mercuric chloride (HgCl2) vapors in the flue gas. The flue gas from these sources contains sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCI) at much higher concentrations than the mercury compounds. Aqueous scrubbing is now used to remove SO2 and HCI from these flue gases. We propose to introduce gases or solution into a conventional aqueous scrubber to generate chlorine (Cl2) or chlorine dioxide (ClO2) in the feed gas. The gaseous chlorine oxidant should react with elemental Hg in the solution at the gas/liquid interface and greatly enhance the rate of absorption of Hg. As a result the existing scrubber technology will also be able to remove Hg emissions at much lower incremental cost than alternative technologies.

Description:

Fundamental results will be obtained on the reaction kinetics in mass transfer boundary layers for the following systems:

Hg(g)/Cl2(g)/SO2(g)/sulfite
Hg(g)/ClO2(g)/SO2(g)/sulfite
Hg(g)/Cl2(g)/ClO2(g)/SO2(g)/chlorate/hypochlorite

These fundamental results will be useful for designing scrubber systems to remove elemental mercury from combustion gases and from other gases, especially systems with existing limestone slurry scrubbers for flue gas desulfurization.

URLs/Downloads:

URL

2000 Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:09/01/2000

Completion Date:08/31/2004

Record ID: 79662

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

Organization Name :GCHSRC

Citation :Austin

State :TX

Zip Code :78712

Project Information:

Approach :

The simultaneous absorption of Hg, Cl2/ClO2, and SO2 will be measured in a wetted wall column. The rates of absorption will be modeled by the theory of mass transfer with fast reaction in the boundary layer. We hope to demonstrate that the Hg will react with the chlorine before the chlorine is depleted by reaction with the dissolved sulfur dioxide.

Cost :$.00

Project IDs:

ID Code :R826694C724

Project type :Center