Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

Elemental Mercury Capture Using Activated Carbon: A Review

Abstract

Stanley R Shewchuk, Ramin Azargohar and Ajay K Dalai

Elemental mercury in the atmospheric environment has been identified as a significant environmental issue. The primary reason is the increased anthropogenic emissions of this metal into the global atmospheric environment in recent years. This paper provides a review for elemental mercury uptake in a flue gas stream. The objectives are to provide a summary of the carbon materials and effective parameters involved in an elemental mercury emission flue gas stream control system for industry. Activated carbon injection systems into emission stacks of coal fired power plant have been credited with providing a significant elemental mercury emission control technology. Various chemicals including sulfur, halogens and others species have been identified as key capture agents for elemental mercury emission control on an activated carbon. With the successes of the past several years, there is in place an excellent frame work in the literature to build an activated carbon injection control system to further increase the efficiency of uptake for elemental mercury from mixed gas streams.