Patent ID: 7887618

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) injecting a plurality of chemically-treated carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into a combustion gas stream such that at least a portion of any mercury or mercury-containing compounds in the gas stream are adsorbed onto at least a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles, wherein the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles comprise activated carbons produced from anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, coconut shell, wood or wood waste; (b) collecting a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles from the combustion gas stream on at least one collection plate of a hot-side electrostatic precipitator while the combustion gas stream passes through the hot-side electrostatic precipitator at least about 230° C.; (c) periodically rapping the at least one collection plate to release a substantial portion of the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into at least one hopper; and (d) periodically emptying the at least one hopper, wherein the rapping and emptying are conducted at rates such that less than about 70% of the mercury adsorbed onto the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles desorbs and reenters the combustion gas stream.