Technical Article Writing & Public Relations for the Power Industry

Optimized SCR Catalysts Maximize Mercury Removal Co-Benefits

As a power industry marketing firm Krishnan & Associates develops specialized technical and commercial content for our power industry clients. Here is an example of an article that we wrote and published for our client in the power industry.

Power | December 2013 | CORMETECH

New air emission rules limit the amount of mercury (Hg) air emissions from coal-fired power plants. Many plant owners may find leveraging the Hg removal co-benefits available from SCR Hg oxidation and FGD Hg collection a more attractive option than constructing new equipment or using other expensive mitigation technologies.

The new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) have given coal-fired power plant operators a short period of time to bring their plants into compliance with standards requiring much less mercury (Hg) in stack gases discharged into the sky. MATS applies to plants in the United States, but the movement to decrease mercury emissions from power plants has spread globally. After four years of discussions, 140 nations signed the first legally binding agreement to restrict mercury emissions from power plants in January 2013. (and many other sources and products).

Hg can be found in three main species or forms in flue gas from coal-fired power plants. First, the Hg may be in particle form (HgP), which is normally removed in an electrostatic precipitator or fabric filter together with the ash and unburned carbon. Second, the Hg could be oxidized (Hg2+), which is water-soluble and can be removed by a wet flue gas desulfurization system (FGD). Hg may also appear in its elemental form (Hg0), which is insoluble in water and normally travels intact through most air quality management systems and into the atmosphere.