Mercury emissions control

The authors and editors of this book wish to acknowledge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Electric Power Research Institute, who sponsored a Society of Enviromnental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) workshop in September 2003 in Pensacola, Florida. More than 30 international experts gathered to discuss and propose a framework for a national mercury monitoring program to evaluate the effectiveness of mercury emissions controls on mercury concentrations in the enviromnent. This book and a companion journal publication (Mason et al. 2005) are the products of the workshop and subsequent efforts. 

E.J. Laubusch, Mercury Emissions Control in Scandinavia, Pamphlet No. R-105 (unpublished). Chlorine Institute, New York, 1970. 

Diaz-Somoano M, Unterberger S, Hein KRG. Mercury emission control in coal-fired plants The role of wet scrubbers. Fuel Process Technol 2007, 88, 259-263. 

Nolan PS, Redinger KE, Amrhein GT, Kudlac GA. Demostration of additive use for enhanced mercury emissions control in wet FGD systems. Fuel Process Technol 2004, 85,587-600. 

Provide guidance regarding additional monitoring needed to help determine whether observed changes in mercury concentrations are related to regulatory controls on mercury emissions. 

Reductions in U.S. mercuiy emissions from medical and municipal waste incinerators and other industrial sectors have already occurred. Additional emission reductions from some coal-fired power plants have also already begun as co-benefits from technologies used to control SO2 and NO emissions. These mercury emissions from power plants are, however, expected to be reduced further over the next few decades. Meanwhile, changes in mercuiy emissions in other parts of the world may also affect some U.S. ecosystems. 

Outlines a national-scale framework for monitoring the effects of emissions controls on mercury concentrations in the environment... 

Metals emissions, e.g., mercury emissions, in relation to EPA s hazardous waste combustion maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards and a site-specific, risk-based analysis that is particularly focused on silver and other metals impacted by the formation of chlorinated and nitrated volatile metals. 

The TOCDF incineration system does not currently contain a PFS. Until a PFS is installed, TOCDF controls its mercury emissions below permit limits by processing only material low in mercury contamination. 

An ATB for the DFS was not required for the mustard agent campaign, as no energetics will be fed through the DFS, but a MACT-rule CPT was required for the DFS. After the PFS is installed at TOCDF, a demonstration of its ability to control mercury emissions will be required. This will not be a trial bum in the strict sense because there is no requirement to demonstrate attainment of a required POHC DRE.7... 

The use of stable isotopes of mercury to track pathways of inputs and uptake is innovative. The additions will be increased over time to levels comparable to the current mercury deposition in the northeastern US. The work is ongoing and, as of 2002, one paper has been published (Hintelmann et al., 2002). We wish to reemphasize that in productive near-shore regions of marine ecosystems, the legacy of pollution derived mercury in the surficial sediments is likely to predominate over new mercury as a substrate for methylation. The intense bioturbation in coastal marine sediments can keep much historical mercury active, relative to the more quiescent sediments of lakes. Unfortunately, the mechanistic predictions for declines in fish mercury levels following controls on mercury emissions, derived from the anticipated successful METAALICUS program, will not be applicable to the marine environment. 

A UN-ECE Protocol of heavy metal atmospheric emissions control was signed in 1998. This document designated cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) as first priority toxic elements. In point of fact the Protocol, in contrast to others as far as the water, soil or sediment pollution with heavy metal is concerned, is the unique Screen of atmosphere protection. Legislation does not yet exist for other elements with respect to defining the atmospherie pollution by heavy metals. It is left to each country to respect and to protect the atmosphere from pollution through heavy metals. 

Major environmental trends that we see for land, air, water, and transportation of environmentally hazardous materials are shown in Box 9. These trends require that we get ahead of these issues and lead the chemical industry in the reduction of toxic metal (e.g., Sb, Sn, As) compounds, greenhouse gases, mercury emissions, and sulfur from gasoline and diesel, and find ways to control and sequester C02. Reduction of arsenic, as well as nitrates and ammonia, in drinking water is necessary. It is also imperative in these days of terrorism that we reduce transportation and storage of hazardous materials and continue our drive to develop inherently safer processes. 

Waste disposal and mining activities are characteristic point sources for environmental pollutants in air, vater, and soil (Table 9.3). Waste incineration typically releases more volatile metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead into the atmosphere emission control, therefore, is not only crucial for smelting activities, but also the decisive prerequisite for all technologies involving higher temperature and vaste materials. Landfill leachates are enriched... 

Natural sources of mercury include volcanoes, evaporation from soil and water surfaces, degradation of minerals, and forest fires. It is estimated that today less than half of the global mercury emissions is due to natural sources (Fitzgerald et al. 1998, Jackson 1997, Lamborg et al. 2002, Coolbaugh et al. 2002). Although it is not possible to control natural emissions, it is important to mention that evaporation from soils may also include re-emission of Hg from previously contaminated sites. 

Bargagli, R., 1990. Mercury emission in an abandoned mining area assessment by epiphytic lichens. In Cher-emisinoff, P.N. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Control Technology. Gulf Publishing, Houston. TX, pp. 613-640. 

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