CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF MERCURY IN FLUE GAS FOR ENHANCED REMOVAL IN WET FGD SYSTEMS

摘要

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and EPRI have funded the development of a catalytic oxidation process to enhance mercury removal in wet FGD systems. In this process, vapor-phase elemental mercury is oxidized by solid catalysts, and the oxidized mercury is removed in downstream FGD absorbers. The process could be applicable to over 90,000 MW of utility generating capacity with existing FGD systems and to future FGD installations. Previous testing identified a number of catalyst materials capable of oxidizing elemental mercury in flue gas. In the current project, promising catalysts have been evaluated in small-scale, sandbed reactors for periods up to six months at three utility plants firing bituminous, lignite, and Powder River Basin (PRB) coals, to provide information about catalyst life. Additional tests evaluated the performance of catalysts in commercially available forms such as honeycombs. This paper provides a summary of test results for the catalytic oxidation of mercury for subsequent removal in scrubber solutions. Initial cost estimates are presented which indicate the costs of a catalytic oxidation process could be favorable compared to other mercury control processes for units that have FGD systems installed.