Measurement and Control of Mercury Species in Flue Gases from Liquid Waste Incineration

Abstract

New measurement methods have been developed for speciation of mercury and its compounds under flue gas conditions. Total mercury can be collected by a silver denuder or by a gold-coated diffusion screen. Mercury halides can be selectively preconcentrated by a potasium chloride denuder. The use of a microwave-induced plasma source combined with optical emission spectrometry for continuous monitoring of total mercury is investigated. Incineration of municipal and industrial wastes is the most relevant mercury emission source. Therefore, first experiments have been carried out with solid adsorbents in order to evaluate attempts towards reduction of mercury emissions from such sources.