In this study GE EER proposes to develop a new mercury control technology in which sorbent for mercury removal is produced from coal in a gasification process in-situ at coal burning plant. The main objective of this project is to obtained technical information necessary for moving the technology from pilot-scale testing to a full-scale demonstration. Goal of the program is to achieve at least 70% mercury removal above baseline at 25% or less of the cost of activated carbon injection.

Proposed work will optimize the gasification process to maximize sorbent reactivity while minimizing the cost of sorbent production. Optimization will be conducted with respect to (1) coal type, (2) parameters of the gasification process, and (3) sorbent injection rate required to achieve 70+% mercury removal. Among parameters of the gasification process to be optimized are: (1) composition of solid fuel/air mixture in the gasifier, (2) gasifier temperature, and (3) mixture residence time in the gasifier.

A study will be performed to update the economic analysis of sorbent production using coal gasification process. Proposed work will also evaluate the stability of mercury captured by the sorbent and effect of the sorbent on fly ash salability.