Grantee Research Project Results
The Reduction of Mercury and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions From Coal-Fired Power Plants
EPA Contract Number: 68D99055Title: The Reduction of Mercury and Sulfur Dioxide Emissions From Coal-Fired Power Plants
Investigators: Sylvester, Paul
Small Business: Lynntech Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through March 1, 2000
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Air Pollution , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Air Quality and Air Toxics
Description:
The EPA has concluded that there is a plausible link between anthropogenic mercury emissions and mercury accumulations in fish. Hence, regulations are being enacted to reduce the levels of mercury emitted to the environment. Coal-fired utility boilers are the largest single source of anthropogenic mercury emissions in the United States, and no current technologies have been shown to be cost-effective in reducing the amount of mercury released into the environment. New clay-based materials have been devised to remove mercury from the gas phase. Advantages of these materials include low toxicity, high mercury capacity, low cost, compatibility with current systems, immobilization of the absorbed mercury, and the ability to remove mercury regardless of speciation.Phase I will evaluate the synthesis, kinetics of mercury absorption, and the capacity of these materials and will study the absorption of sulfur dioxide. Pilot plant testing using a coal combustor will be performed in later phases of the project. Also, it will be determined whether the materials should be used as a final stage filter or injected into the flue gas as a dry powder.
The primary use will be for the removal of mercury from coal-fired utility plant and municipal waste incinerator emissions to reduce emission levels to meet new and future EPA regulations. This is expected to cause a major reduction of anthropogenic mercury emissions in the United States and worldwide. Capital costs are predicted to be minimal, and when used in conjunction with a wet flue gas desulfurization system, mercury discharges are expected to be reduced by 90 percent or more. These materials also could be used as mercury traps to allow the preconcentration of environmental samples to allow accurate determinations of ultralow levels of mercury.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, air emissions, engineering, chemistry, EPA., Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Engineering, Chemistry, HAPS, Environmental Chemistry, 33/50, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, cleaner production/pollution prevention, air toxics, incineration, mercury & mercury compounds, removal, mercury absorbtion, emissions, coal fired power plants, Sulfur Oxides (SO2), air emissions, cost effective, flue gas, Mercury Compounds, sulfur dioxide absorption, emission control technologies, coal combustion, air pollutants, power generation , mercury abatement technology, air pollution, electric utilities, Sulfur dioxideProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.