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Solvay Chemicals, Inc.

Telephone: 713/525-6500

FAX: 713/525-7806

www.solvaychemicals.us

www.solvair.us

Mercury (Hg)

Mercury is present in coal in trace amounts (approximately 0.1 ppm on average). Much of the mercury in coal 

is associated with pyrite. Other forms of mercury are organically bound, elemental, and in sulfide and selenide 

minerals. During combustion the mercury is released into the exhaust gas as elemental mercury vapor, Hg0. 

This vapor may then be oxidized to Hg2+ via homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions.

Mercury may be present in the flue gas in several forms. The specific chemical form has a strong impact on the 

capture of mercury by boiler air pollution control (APC) equipment. The primary homogeneous reaction is that 

with gas-phase chlorine. As the combustion exhaust gases exit the boiler and cool, thermodynamic equilibrium 

shifts to favor formation of HgCl2 vapor. The temperature window where this transformation occurs varies, based 

upon coal conditions, from about 620°F to 1250°F. At the temperature after the last heat exchanger, normally 

around 300°F, one would expect all of the mercury to be in the oxidized form if the reactions went to equilibrium. 

However, gas-phase mercury oxidation is slow and highly dependent upon the amount of chlorine in the flue gas 

and, in practice, the amount of oxidized mercury in the flue gas can range from a few percent to over 90%. 

Therefore, the transformation of elemental mercury to oxidized mercury is kinetically limited, i.e., the chemical 

reactions associated with mercury oxidation do not go to completion.

Heterogeneous (gas-solid, surface catalyzed) mercury oxidation is more complex and depends upon the 

availability of surfaces having electrophyllic groups that attract the electron-rich Hg0 atom. The heterogeneous 

reactions occur mostly on fly ash surfaces or boiler surfaces, especially if the fly ash contains high amounts 

of unburned carbon. 

The mercury that is adsorbed onto solid surfaces, such as fly ash or unburned carbon, is the particulate-bound 

mercury, Hgp, which can be captured by downstream PM control devices. Hence, fly ash characteristics – 

especially carbon - as well as coal chlorine content play an important role in mercury speciation and capture.

Other flue gas species – especially SO3 and H2O – have also been shown to affect mercury speciation, tending to 

suppress Hg0 oxidation to Hg2+. This is due to competition for active sites on the surface of carbon or other flue gas 

solids. In general, bituminous coals tend to have higher chlorine contents and also tend to produce higher levels 

of unburned carbon in the fly ash. As a result, the flue gas from the burning of bituminous coals tends to contain 

higher amounts of Hg2+ species while that of subbituminous and lignite coals tends to contain more Hg0 vapor.

Dry Scrubbing

In dry scrubbing, a sorbent is deposited into the solution or slurry, which is then injected into the duct to dry, 

prior to reacting. Dry scrubbing is typically used for SO2 or SO3 control. Soda ash, sodium sulfite or lime can be 

used in this type of process. The advantage is the small size and large surface area of the particle generated. The 

disadvantage of this process is the increased complexity of the system and plugging of nozzles and duct work. 

These systems typically cost less than wet scrubbers but more than DSI systems.