Grantee Research Project Results
A Carbon-Polymer Matrix-Based Flue Gas Purification Technology
EPA Contract Number: EPD04061Title: A Carbon-Polymer Matrix-Based Flue Gas Purification Technology
Investigators: Lu, Xiao-Chun
Current Investigators: Wu, Xiaoqun
Small Business: Sorption Technologies Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005
Project Amount: $224,961
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2004) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Pollution Prevention , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Description:
The current flue gas purification technologies are expensive, energy intensive, and secondary pollution generating. Most of these technologies only remove a single pollutant from flue gases. For example, the prevailing limestone-based scrubber not only is expensive and energy consuming, but also generates a large amount of liquid and solid wastes.
The goal of the Phase I research project was to establish the feasibility of using the carbon-polymer matrix (CPM) material for flue gas purification applications. The proposed CPM material removes sulfur dioxide (SO2), mercury vapor (both elemental mercury and mercury oxide), and fine particles simultaneously from flue gas. Because of its unique physical-chemical properties, the material removes SO2 by converting it into concentrated sulfuric acid without requiring a complicated material-regeneration process. It also removes mercury vapor by a chemical-fixation process and removes fine particles by a surface-filtration process.
Phase I clearly established the feasibility of using CPM material for flue gas purification applications. During Phase I, the CPM materials were synthesized and characterized, the unique acid solution-expelling capability or the self-regenerative capability of the CPM material was demonstrated, very high flue gas SO2 and mercury removal efficiencies (more than 97 percent) were achieved, and the long-term performance stability of flue gas purification was observed.
Based on the success of the Phase I project, the goal of Phase II is to further develop and commercialize this innovative technology. During the Phase II project, the CPM material synthesis will be optimized and scaled up, the CPM-based flue gas purification system will be studied and designed, a prototype unit will be constructed, and a small-scale field demonstration will be carried out.
If successful, an innovative coal-burning flue gas purification technology will be developed and commercialized. Compared with the current technologies, this technology has the advantages of simplicity, low cost, multipollutant removal, and high efficiency. It will make flue gas pollution abatement much simpler and more affordable.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, carbon-polymer matric, CPM, flue gas purification, air pollution, scrubber, sulfur dioxide, SO2, mercury, sulfuric acid, limestone, fine particles, flue gas pollution abatement., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Waste, Sustainable Industry/Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Incineration/Combustion, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, sulfur oxides, combustion-related pollutants, mercury, air pollution control, mercury emissions, clean technology, air pollution, flue gas purification, sulfur dioxide (SO2), emission controls, flue gas, Sulfur dioxide, flue gas emissions, carbon polymer matrix, carbon polymer, combustion flue gases, emissions contol engineering, air emissions, pollution preventionProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase I:
A Carbon-Polymer Matrix-Based Flue Gas Desulfurization Technology | Final ReportThe 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.