Activated carbon injection for mercury control: Overview

Full-scale evaluations of the commercial feasibility of activated carbon injection (ACI) for mercury control in coal-fired power plants have been underway in North America since 2001 through DOE, EPRI and industry-funded projects. Commercial injection systems began to be sold to the power generation industry in 2005 and ACI is now considered the most robust technology for mercury control at many coal-fired units. Successful widespread implementation of this technology throughout this industry will require continued development efforts including: (1) understanding the impacts of technologies to control other pollutants, such as SO3, for the enhancement of particulate control or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NOx control, (2) options to continue using ash containing activated carbon in concrete, (3) techniques to assure the quality of delivered carbon, (4) techniques to improve the effectiveness of activated carbon, and (5) facilities to produce additional carbon supply. An overview of activated carbon injection for mercury control will be presented including the range of expected control levels, costs, balance-of-plant issues, recent developments to reduce overall control costs for many common air pollution control configurations, and developments to overcome complications caused by some new control configurations. An update on carbon supply and progress on ADA’s activated carbon manufacturing facility will also be provided.