Grantee Research Project Results

2003 Progress Report: Development of Mercury Sampling and Analytical Techniques

EPA Grant Number: R827649C013
Subproject: this is subproject number 013 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827649
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Air Toxic Metals^® (CATM^®)
Center Director: Groenewold, Gerald
Title: Development of Mercury Sampling and Analytical Techniques
Investigators: Pavlish, John H. , Benson, Steven A. , Galbreath, Kevin C. , Timpe, Ronald C. , Zygarlicke, Christopher J. , Hassett, David J. , Holmes, Michael J. , Miller, Stanley J. , Laudal, Dennis L. , Olson, Edwin S. , Thompson, Jeffrey S. , Heebink, Loreal V. , Ralston, Nicholas V.C. , Mibeck, Blaise , Kong, Lingbu
Institution: University of North Dakota
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 15, 1999 through October 14, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 15, 2002 through October 14, 2003
RFA: Center for Air Toxic Metals (CATM) (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Targeted Research

Objective:

The objective of the research conducted by the Center for Air Toxic Metals (CATM) is to address air toxic trace element emissions, which have become a matter of worldwide concern as well as a regulatory issue in the United States. The goal of CATM is to develop key information on air toxic metal compounds to support development and implementation of pollution prevention and control strategies that will reduce air toxic metal emissions and releases to the environment.

Progress Summary:

Techniques for definitive speciation of oxidized mercury compounds in a flue gas stream were developed using trapping and derivatization of certain volatile Hg(II) compounds and their analysis by mass spectrometry. The analysis of mercuric halides and organomercury halides was accomplished by reaction with diazo compounds to form volatile derivatives that give sharp elution peaks in gas chromatography and characteristic mass spectra that preserve the identity of the anion(s) attached to the Hg(II). The identification of mercuric nitrate in the vapor phase now is understood better via its unique and unusual behavior during gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. These insights into the behavior of the oxidized mercury species have benefitted the development of a model for the chemisorption of Hg⁰ on a carbon sorbent surface. The combination of these efforts and subsequent improvement will lead to quantitative speciation methods with high levels of confidence for the major volatile oxidized mercury species.

This is one of the research projects funded by the Center. For descriptions of the other research conducted by CATM, see the 2003 Annual Reports for R827649C006, R827649C009 through R827649C012, and R827649C014 through R827649C022.

Future Activities:

This project will continue in the next year.

Supplemental Keywords:

air, toxic, air quality, control, modeling, database, emissions, environment, hazardous, mercury, metals, pollutants, pollution, sampling, measurement, species, transformations,, RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Toxics, Chemical Engineering, HAPS, Environmental Chemistry, 33/50, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Incineration/Combustion, air toxics, Environmental Engineering, mercury & mercury compounds, flue gases, mercury , gas chromatography, flue gas emissions, mercury speciation, selective catalytic reduction, monitoring, Mercury Compounds, coal fired utility boiler , speciation tools, mercury speciation and sampling, flue gas , sampling tools

Relevant Websites:

http://www.undeerc.org Exit
http://www.undeerc.org/catm/index.html Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R827649 Center for Air Toxic Metals^® (CATM^®)

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827649C001 Development And Demonstration Of Trace Metals Database
R827649C002 Nickel Speciation Of Residual Oil Ash
R827649C003 Atmospheric Deposition: Air Toxics At Lake Superior
R827649C004 Novel Approaches For Prevention And Control For Trace Metals
R827649C005 Wet Scrubber System
R827649C006 Technology Commercialization And Education
R827649C007 Development Of Speciation And Sampling Tools For Mercury In Flue Gas
R827649C008 Process Impacts On Trace Element Speciation
R827649C009 Mercury Transformations in Coal Combustion Flue Gas
R827649C010 Nickel, Chromium, and Arsenic Speciation of Ambient Particulate Matter in the Vicinity of an Oil-Fired Utility Boiler
R827649C011 Transition Metal Speciation of Fossil Fuel Combustion Flue Gases
R827649C012 Fundamental Study of the Impact of SCR on Mercury Speciation
R827649C013 Development of Mercury Sampling and Analytical Techniques
R827649C014 Longer-Term Testing of Continuous Mercury Monitors
R827649C015 Long-Term Mercury Monitoring at North Dakota Power Plants
R827649C016 Development of a Laser Absorption Continuous Mercury Monitor
R827649C017 Development of Mercury Control Technologies
R827649C018 Developing SCR Technology Options for Mercury Oxidation in Western Fuels
R827649C019 Modeling Mercury Speciation in Coal Combustion Systems
R827649C020 Stability of Mercury in Coal Combustion By-Products and Sorbents
R827649C021 Mercury in Alternative Fuels
R827649C022 Studies of Mercury Metabolism and Selenium Physiology

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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.