Adsorption is the most promising technique.
The challenge of mercury control lies in the characteristics of the gaseous streams. Activated carbon has been used to enhance mercury control in incinerators in Europe and the United States for almost a decade. Utility-generated mercury is more difficult to control, because it occurs in the elemental form. Mercury from incinerators is usually in the more easily adsorbed form. Tests have shown carbon injection has potential for removing mercury from flue gases in the utility industry.