The report presents estimates of the performance and cost of powdered activated carbon (PAC) injection-based mercury control technologies and projections of costs for future applications. (NOTE: Under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the U.S. EPA has to determine whether mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants should be regulated. These estimates and projections were developed to aid in this determination.) Estimates based on currently available data using PAC range from 0.305 to 3.783 mills/kWh. However, the higher costs are associated with the minority of plants using hot-side electrostatic precipitators (HESPs). If these costs are excluded, the estimates range from 0.305 to 1.915 mills/kWh. Cost projections, developed based on using a composite lime-Pac sorbent for mercury removal, range from 0.183 to 2.270 mills/kWh, with the higher costs being associated with the minority of plants using HESPs. A comparison of mercury control costs with those of nitrogen oxides (NOx) controls reveals that total annual costs for mercury lie mostly between applicable costs for low NOx burners and selective catalytic reduction. The performance and cost estimates of the PAC injection-based mercury control technologies presented in the report are based on relatively few data points from pilot-scale tests and, therefore, are considered to be preliminary.

"EPA/600/R-00/083." "PB2001-101635." Microfiche.