Patent ID: 7910076

Claim:
A process for the removal of gaseous, liquid and solid heavy metals or their compounds, from fumes deriving from combustion processes or from the production synthetic gas, comprising the following steps: a) optionally, removal by filtration of flue gases, of particulate of heavy metals, or their compounds, having an average diameter larger than 10 micron; b) flue gas washing with an aqueous phase wherein the heavy metals or their compounds, soluble in said aqueous phase, are converted into anion compounds and simultaneously the particles of heavy metals or their compounds which are insoluble in said aqueous phase are wetted, to allow the transfer of them into said aqueous phase; c) cooling and partial condensation of water vapour contained in the flue gas, separation of a condensed aqueous phase, optionally recycling the condensed phase to the combustion chamber (combustor); d) discharge into the environment of flue gas substantially free from heavy metals or their compounds.