Mercury Capture Using Powdered Activate
Mercury Capture Using Powdered Activated Carbon
Environmental issues are one of the most important topics that are being dealt with today. Jacob Lowring manages to not only tackle the problem of mercury emissions from coal power plant, but to explain the research he has conducted with mercury capture in an exciting manner that even laymen can understand.
Carbon has been used as a filter since before World War I, when it was used in gas masks. Additionally, it is used as a filter for water, to make Karo syrup, and when poison is swallowed. Although the Red River Manufacturing Plant is where “the magic happens”, Jacob brought some of that magic to his alma matter tonight and shared it with interested students and faculty.
Mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources are of a particular concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as almost 2/3 (two thirds) of all mercury emissions come from fossil fuels. In the more that 20 (twenty) years since the Clean Air act was passed, The Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule (MATS rule) has played an important part in setting standards for mercury emissions. Capturing mercury is one of the most important things we can do for human health.
Almost any raw material containing carbon can be activated to capture mercury. Most types of coal (anthracite, bituminous, and lignite), lignocellulose, sawdust, or even coconut shells can be activated! There is, however, science to an efficient mercury capture. Jacob described this as the 3 Cs- the Contact of mercury (which is in very dilute concentrations in the flue gas) with the capture media; Conversion of elemental mercury (Hg0) to an oxidized state (Hg+ or Hg++) to enhance the mercury’s receptivity to the capture media, and Capture of the mercury in the capture media’s structure. The 3Cs are an exact science and must occur in seconds to work. Activated carbon is basically a giant butterfly net to catch the mercury that is being released by the power
Environmental issues are one of the most important topics that are being dealt with today. Jacob Lowring manages to not only tackle the problem of mercury emissions from coal power plant, but to explain the research he has conducted with mercury capture in an exciting manner that even laymen can understand.
Carbon has been used as a filter since before World War I, when it was used in gas masks. Additionally, it is used as a filter for water, to make Karo syrup, and when poison is swallowed. Although the Red River Manufacturing Plant is where “the magic happens”, Jacob brought some of that magic to his alma matter tonight and shared it with interested students and faculty.
Mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources are of a particular concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as almost 2/3 (two thirds) of all mercury emissions come from fossil fuels. In the more that 20 (twenty) years since the Clean Air act was passed, The Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule (MATS rule) has played an important part in setting standards for mercury emissions. Capturing mercury is one of the most important things we can do for human health.
Almost any raw material containing carbon can be activated to capture mercury. Most types of coal (anthracite, bituminous, and lignite), lignocellulose, sawdust, or even coconut shells can be activated! There is, however, science to an efficient mercury capture. Jacob described this as the 3 Cs- the Contact of mercury (which is in very dilute concentrations in the flue gas) with the capture media; Conversion of elemental mercury (Hg0) to an oxidized state (Hg+ or Hg++) to enhance the mercury’s receptivity to the capture media, and Capture of the mercury in the capture media’s structure. The 3Cs are an exact science and must occur in seconds to work. Activated carbon is basically a giant butterfly net to catch the mercury that is being released by the power