The thief process for mercury removal from flue gas

Area of Science:

• Environmental Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Combustion Science

Background:

• Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants pose significant environmental risks.
• Activated carbon injection (ACI) is a common but costly method for mercury removal.
• Developing cost-effective alternatives for mercury abatement is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Thief Process as a cost-effective alternative to ACI for mercury removal from flue gas.
• To compare the mercury removal performance and sorbent capacity of the Thief Process with ACI.
• To assess the economic viability of the Thief Process.

Main Methods:

• The Thief Process involves extracting partially combusted coal and re-injecting it into ductwork.
• Pilot-scale (500-lb/h) combustion facility tests were conducted.
• Laboratory, bench, and pilot-scale tests were performed to evaluate sorbent capacities.

Main Results:

• The Thief Process demonstrated mercury removal efficiencies comparable to ACI.
• Thief sorbents exhibited mercury capture capacities similar to commercially available activated carbons.
• Thief sorbents are less expensive than commercial activated carbons.

Conclusions:

• The Thief Process is a promising, cost-effective technology for reducing mercury emissions from flue gas.
• The process offers comparable mercury removal performance at a lower cost than ACI.
• The Thief Process has significant potential for widespread adoption in reducing mercury pollution.