Silica-Titania–Coated Packing: Novel Solution Capable of 90% Hg Capture with Low Operation and Maintenance Costs
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 1
Abstract
A silica–titania composite (STC) material has been commercialized for mercury removal from caustic exhaust at a U.S. chlor-alkali facility employing a mercury-cell process. A second-generation STC, applicable to larger flow rates such as those associated with coal-fired boiler flue gas, was developed and evaluated for this study. This new material, consisting of high void space chemical tower packing dip coated with an STC formula, was named Silica-Titania–Coated Packing (STCP). The STCP was capable of 90% oxidation and removal of mercury from a simulated flue gas under conditions where other technologies would fail. Additionally, a preliminary cost estimate determined that the STCP would have much lower average annual costs than two commercial technologies that are widely accepted as the best available for this application.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This work was conducted as part of a National Science Foundation Phase I STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant (Award No. 0740718). We would like to acknowledge NSF for their funding.
References
ASTM. (2008). “Standard test method for elemental, oxidized, particle-bound and total mercury in flue gas generated from coal-fired stationary sources (Ontario Hydro method).” ASTM D6784-02, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2011). “Standard test method for film hardness by pencil test.” ASTM D3363-00, West Conshohocken, PA.
Cheuk, D. K. L., and Wong, V. (2006). “Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and blood mercury level: A case-control study in Chinese children.” Neuropediatrics, 37(4), 234–240.
Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC). (2008). “Center for Air Toxic Metals annual report: Toxic metal transformation in fossil fuel combustion systems.” CATM Annual Report 〈http://www.undeerc.org/catm/pdf/area1/2008ToxicMetalTransformations.pdf〉 (Aug. 1, 2010).
Li, Y., Daukoru, M., Suriyawong, A., and Biswas, P. (2009). “Mercury emissions control in coal combustion systems using potassium iodide: Bench-scale and pilot-scale studies.” Energy Fuels, 23(1), 236–243.
Li, Y., Murphy, P., and Wu, C. Y. (2008). “Removal of elemental mercury from simulated coal-combustion flue gas using a SiO2-TiO2 nanocomposite.” Fuel Process. Technol., 89(6), 567–573.
McDowell, M. A. et al. (2004). “Hair mercury levels in US children and women of childbearing age: Reference range data from NHANES 1999–2000.” Environ. Health Perspect., 112(11), 1165–1171.
Pitoniak, E. (2004). “Evaluation of nanostructured silica-titania composites in an adsorption/photocatalytic oxidation system for elemental mercury vapor control.” M.S. thesis, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Pitoniak, E. et al. (2003). “Nanostructured silica-gel doped with for Hg vapor control.” J. Nanopart. Res., 5(3–4), 282–292.
Pitoniak, E., Wu, C. Y., Powers, K. W., and Sigmund, W. (2005). “Adsorption enhancement mechanisms of silica-titania nanocomposites for elemental mercury vapor removal.” Environ. Sci. Technol., 39(5), 1269–1274.
Stokke, J. M., and Mazyck, D. W. (2008). “Development of a regenerable system employing silica-titania composites for the recovery of mercury from end-box exhaust at a chlor-alkali facility.” J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 58(4), 530–537.
U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE). (2005). “Department of Energy Mercury Emission Control R&D.” Office of Fossil Energy Homepage. 〈http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/pollutioncontrols/overview_mercurycontrols.html〉 (Nov. 1, 2005).
Xcel Energy. (2009). “Mercury control plan for Sherco Units 1 & 2 pursuant to the Minnesota Mercury Emission Reduction Act of 2006.” 〈https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling/edockets/searchDocuments.do?method=showPoup&documentId=%7B2E4555A9-26F3-4E2D-9009-660A71D56F7E%7D&documentTitle=200912-45296-01〉 (Aug. 1, 2010).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 1 • January 2013
Pages: 86 - 94
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 10, 2011
Accepted: Jun 26, 2012
Published online: Aug 3, 2012
Published in print: Jan 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.