Emission of Mercury From Polish Large-Scale Utility Boilers

Abstract

The article presents the results of investigations focused on the determination of mercury content in gas and solid samples. The emission of Hg was the result of coal combustion. The investigations were carried out in the selected power generation facilities operated with pulverized coal and circulating fluidized bed boilers. Analysis was carried out for the flue gases, as well as fuel and sorbent samples and the by-products of the combustion process (fly ash, slag, bottom ash, and the products of wet desulfurization technology). The determination of mercury content in solid samples was carried out using Lumex RA-915+ spectrometer with RP-91C attachment. The measurements of the mercury concentration in the flue gases were performed according to the cold vapor technique. The analysis of the results indicated that the main source of mercury is coal, but significant concentration was also determined for the biomass co-combusted in one of the facilities. Considerable amounts were also determined in fly ash and wet FGD (flue gas desulfurization) samples.

Mercury emissions from polish pulverized coalfired boiler

“…No filters were placed upstream the impingers and the spectrometer. The determination of Hg 2+ mercury captured in the impingers was carried out in laboratory with the application of a cold vapor technique, where the mercury dissolved in KCl was snatched away with SnCl2 (100 g/dm 3 ) [15]. Both sampling tubes that were inserted into the measurement zone were made of stainless steel while all other connectors were manufactured of silicone.…”