Polish J. of Environ. Stud. Vol. 19, No.

6 (2010), 1255-1262

Original Research
Absorption of NOx, SO2, and Mercury
in a Simulated Additive-Enhanced Wet Flue
Gas Desulphurization Scrubber

Renata Krzyżyńska1,2*, Yongxin Zhao3, Nick Hutson1**

1
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA
2
Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology,
Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-379 Wrocław, Poland
3
Arcadis G&M, Inc, Durham, NC 27713 USA

Received: 19 December 2009

Accepted: 30 March 2010

Abstract

Bench- and pilot-scale studies were conducted on the simultaneous removals of SO2, NOx, and mercury
(both Hg0 and Hg2+) from coal combustion flue gas using a limestone-based wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD)
scrubber. The wet scrubber performance for multi-pollutant control was significantly enhanced with the intro-
duction of an oxidizing additive – sodium chlorite (NaClO2). Parametric studies investigating the effects of
flue gas components (e.g., SO2, NO), temperature, and oxidant addition rate were completed with the bench-
and pilot-scale experimental facilities. Various process configurations were examined to optimize the addition
of sodium chlorite. Additional tests were also performed to better understand the chemistry of the oxidation
and subsequent capture of the pollutants of interest.

Keywords: multi-pollutant, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, flue gas

Introduction concern about mercury arises from its damage to nerves

and kidneys [29]. Therefore, developing and implementing
Coal combustion is the primary means of power gener- “clean coal technologies” to control these hazardous air
ation in Poland, providing 59% of the total energy supply pollutant emissions from flue gas to meet United States
[1]. It is anticipated that coal will continue to be the domi- Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and European Directive
nating energy source for at least the next 20 years [2]. 2001/80/EC emission standards is critical [3, 5]. Current
However, the combustion of fossil fuels causes the release emission standards by Directive 2001/80/EC demand that
of various pollutants such as SO2, NOx, and mercury. Their electric utilities control emissions of NOx and SO2 below
harmful effects on human health and the environment are 200 mg/m3 beginning in 2016. Although the EU has not
well known and documented. For example, sulfur dioxide issued any mercury-related rules, it is expected that eventu-
(SO2) is the major contributor to the precipitation of acid ally mercury emissions will be caped in a similar way as in
rain, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are a precursor of smog by the United States [4]. Despite this, currently available FGD
reacting with volatile organic compounds. The increasing technologies, in particular limestone-based wet scrubbers,
are able to scrub SO2 as high as ~95%. The primary deNOx
*e-mail: [email protected] techniques, such as low nitrogen burner (LNB), are not effi-
**e-mail: [email protected] cient enough to meet new emission criteria in the US CAIR
1256 Krzyżynska R., et al.

[3] and European Union directive [5]. The installation of The U.S. Argonne National Laboratory recently
post-combustion NOx control devices, such as selective cat- claimed that an integrated multi-pollutant approach through
alytic reduction (SCR), is one way to meet the stringent the wet FGD system can outperform current emission con-
emission standards. It is anticipated that deployment of trol strategies in the following ways:
SCR systems will continuously increase and ~50% of the (1) optimization of resource and energy,
coal-firing plants will have SCR installed by 2020 [6]. (2) lower capital and operating costs, and
Notwithstanding, the increasing price of ammonia (which (3) operational reliability [7].
is synthesized from natural gas) [32] might throw a road- In this approach, one multi-pollutant control technology
block to the wide deployment of SCR systems. can be realized by introducing additives to the wet scubber
Mercury is a component of coal and during the com- where NO and elemental Hg can be oxidized and scrubbed.
bustion process is released as Hg0 (elemental mercury) [33, This type of approach is also most attractive for small or
34]. Mercury reacts with different flue gas components and medium boilers. In addition, extending this application to
exists in three different forms in flue gases: elemental Hg0 the cement or waste treatement industry would be interest-
(elemental) and Hg2+ (oxidized form, e.g. HgCl2), and Hg in ing as well.
particulates (Hgp) [33, 34]. The elemental Hg0 does not dis- A lot of work has been performed in an effort to remove
solve in water and is not usually captured in air pollutant NO in the sodium chlorite solution by oxidation of NO to
control devices (APCD), while the Hg in particulates is NO2 or elevated states of oxides [11, 14-16, 26-28]. NO in
captured upstream of particulate control devices (e.g. elec- general has a low solubility and it is extremely difficult to
trostatic precipitator (ESP) or fabric filter (FF)). The oxi- achieve removal across a wet scrubber without it being con-
dized form dissolves in water and can be captured with verted into soluble matter, e.g. NO2 [25]. As such, the suc-
water spray or in a flue gas desulphurization (FGD) unit cess of NOx removal from flue gas when a wet scrubber is
[33, 34]. Wet-FGD scrubbers have the potential to provide utilized should involve oxidation of NO to NO2 and then
a high level of mercury control because of their substantial scrubbed in a liquid slurry. When oxidant is added to the
gas-liquid mass transfer and the high solubility of most oxi- wet scrubber, it also has the potential to oxidize elemental
dized mercury compounds (such as HgCl2). This co-benefit mercury, which is not water soluble. The efforts presented
control is only effective for flue gas streams containing oxi- in this paper are, therefore, to illustrate the role played by
dized forms of mercury, because the elemental form is not sodium chlorite in promoting NOx and Hg scrubbing across
soluble and tends to pass through the wet scrubber [33, 34]. a wet limestone scrubber system.
Mercury, well known for its toxic properties regarding
human health and the environment, should be removed Bench-Scale Demonstration
from flue gas [21]. A variety of technologies are being
developed to control mercury emissions from coal-fired The performance of NaClO2 in promoting multi-pollu-
power plants, including sorbent injection, catalyst oxida- tant control was first investigated with bench-scale tests.
tion, flue gas or coal additives, combustion modification, The bench-scale experimental apparatus, Fig. 1, made use
barrier discharges, and ultraviolet radiation [22-24]. Co- of a flow-through gas-liquid impinger to simulate a wet
benefit application of SCR in combination with wet scrub- FGD scrubber. The system included a gas blending system
ber without any additional capital investment is the most for the makeup of synthetic flue gas, a flow-through gas-
favorable solution [30]. However, challenges still exist due liquid impinger, and an online gas analysis system for mea-
to the potential deactivation of SCR catalysts by fly ash surement of the flue gas stream constituents. Slurry was
[31]. pumped through the impinger, being maintained at a con-
Worldwide research efforts have shed light on individ- stant slurry level through overflow mechanics. The scrub-
ual SO2, NOx, and mercury emission reductions [8-20, 27]. ber was operated at 55ºC by immersing the scrubber into a
Technological approaches for multipollutant control differ constant temperature water bath. Sodium chlorite (NaClO2)
dramatically, and some have gone beyond the co-benefit and calcium carbonate were mixed prior to being intro-
endeavor of current air pollutant control devices. For exam- duced to the scrubber through separate ports. The constant
ple, ReACT technology (ammonia and activated carbon) addition of NaClO2 was manipulated via weight losses in
and ECO (plasma) has achieved commercial application [8, the beaker. The alkali solution addition rate was monitored
9]. However, their application to the coal-fired power plant via the weight gain from the overflow of the scrubber.
commands additional equipment and investment. One con- Simulated flue gas was introduced to the experimental sys-
cept recently introduced is the multi-pollutant control tem from gas cylinders. The gas mix was comprised of 11%
where SO2, NOx, and other pollutants are simultaneously CO2, 8% O2, 1,500 ppmv SO2, 200 ppmv NO, 206 μg/m3
controlled in a single air pollutant control device. Hg0, and balanced with N2. The flow of the simulated flue
Apparently, the multipollutant control across wet FGD is an gas was maintained at 2 L/min (STP). Elemental mercury
option. Following the wide deployment of wet-FGD scrub- vapor was supplied from a VICI Metronics Dynacalibrator
bers in response to CAIR and the EU Directive, researching permeation oven, maintained at 100ºC and transported by
and developing a process where the wet scrubber is capable N2. The high level of mercury was necessary to meet the
of providing simultaneous multi-pollutant (SO2, NOx, and required sensitivity of the mercury analyzer. Prior to analy-
Hg) control is attractive. sis, the sampling gas passes through an ice cooler and a
Absorption of NOx, SO2, and Mercury in a Simulated... 1257

Table 1. Summary of Experimental Conditions in Bench-Scale Instrumentation, Inc.). The NOx species were measured
Experiments. using a continuous chemiluminescence NOx analyzer
Experimental (model 200AH, Advanced Pollution Instrumentation, Inc.).
Value Remark
conditions Slurry was feeding simultaneuosly with the oxidizer to
SO2 0-2,500 ppm SO2 in nitrogen the impinger until it started to overflow. A magnetic stirrer
was used to promote the mixing of slurry. The agitation was
NO 0-470 ppm NO in nitrogen maintained at a constant speed throughout all runs. Flue gas
CO2 11 vol % Compressed CO2 was then introduced to the impinger and the test was con-
tinued for 60 minutes. Fresh NaClO2/CaCO3 was added at
O2 8 vol % Compressed air (N2/O2)
a constant rate during the scrubbing period. The scrubber
N2 balance Compressed N2 effluent was collected every 10 minutes toward the end of
H0 permeation tube at the test. Collected samples were immediately weighed, and
Hg0 206 µg/m3 ice quenched to minimize potential oxidation reactions.
100ºC
Filtrate from samples was then analyzed as soon as practi-
Std conditions, 1 atm and
Total flue gas flow 2 L/min
20ºC
cally possible for chloride, chlorite, chlorate, sulfate,
nitrate, and nitrite concentrations with ion chromatography
Scrubber slurry Alkali and oxidant (IC) using EPA reference method 300.0.
10 wt %
solids wt % solutions combined
Oxidant Simultaneous Removal of SO2, NOx, and Hg
varied Sodium chlorite
concentration
Scrubber Simultaneous removal of SO2, NOx, and Hg was tested
55ºC Controlled by water bath
temperature at 55ºC by using SO2, NO, and Hg concentrations of 1,500
ppm, 200 ppm, and 206 μg/m3, respectively. NOx and Hg
removal efficiencies and resulting NO3¯, NO2̄ , and Hg2+ ion
Nafion dryer, where moisture is removed. Hg0 vapor was concentrations in the liquor are presented in Figs. 3 and 4.
measured using a continuous cold vapor atomic absorption SO2 removal efficiency was complete before the addition of
(CVAA) analyzer (BUCK model 400A). The interference NaClO2, This information is not presented in the figures for
of SO2 to mercury analyzer was determined and corrected clarity. Data show that NO was completely oxidized into
together with the downstream SO2 analyzer. The SO2 NO2 when NaClO2 concentration reached 5.0 mM. NO2
species were measured using a continuous SO2 fluores- scrubbing increased along with increasing NaClO2 addi-
cence analyzer (model 100AH, Advanced Pollution tion, ranging from 40% at 5.0 mM NaClO2 up to 60% at 25

NOx
Hg
Permeation
Oven

To Vent
Vent SO2
Rotameter

Gas
Filter

Hg
Outlet D.A.S.
Nafion
Dryer
Gas
Inlet

Oxidant

Scrubber
Balance
Overflow
Limestone
Slurry

Balance
Stirplate

Stirplate
Fig. 1. Bench-scale experimental schema.
1258 Krzyżynska R., et al.

mM NaClO2. The corresponding nitrogen species (nitrite 160%

and nitrate) in the slurry was consistent with the scrubbing 140%
mass balance from Hg in effluent
of the NO2 from the gas stream. The amount of Hg0

AmountRemoved
120%

Removal
removed as a function of chlorite concentration is shown in
100%
Fig. 4. Mercury was completely removed with the addition Hg (gas analysis)
of 3.0 mM NaClO2. The mass balance in some cases was 80%

Amount
not well closed, most likely due to analytical challenges in 60%
measuring low levels of Hg2+ concentration.
40%

Effect of SO2 Concentration 20%

0%
0.000 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020 0.025 0.030
The effect of SO2 concentration on the simultaneous
-
removal of NOx, SO2, and Hg at 55ºC was performed at ini- [ClO 2 ] in Scrubber Slurry, Molar

tial NO of 200 ppm, Hg0 of 206 μg/m3, NaClO2 of 8.0 mM, Fig. 4. Amount of Hg0 removed as a function of chlorite con-
and CaCO3 of 10% (wt %) solid slurry. The SO2 concentra- centration in the CaCO3 slurry. The inlet concentration of NO
was 200 ppm. The initial SO2 concentration was 1,500 ppm.
tion varied from 0 to 2,500 ppm. These values represent the
extreme ranges of what might be seen in the flue gas of
coal-fired utilities.

120

Hg (gas analysis)
100
Amount Removed [%]

80
NO (gas analysis)
NOx (gas analysis)
60

40

20

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
SO2 Concentration into Scrubber, ppm

Fig. 5. Amount of NO, NOx, and Hg removed as a function of

varying concentration of SO2 in the entering gas. The entering
concentration of NaClO2 added was 8 mM. NO concentration
in entering gas was 200 ppm.
Fig. 2. Schematic of the pilot-scale wet scrubber system.

120% The lack of SO2 in flue gas causes a dramatic decrease

in Hg, NO, and NOx removal efficiency (Fig. 5). In this
100%
NO (gas analysis) case, only 50% NO removal (oxidized) and 80% of mer-
Amount Removed [%]

80% cury removal was observed. NO2 absorption was also low
NO X (gas analysis)
(~20%). This phenomenon is most likely related to the pH
60% of the medium, where high levels of pH are unfavorable for
Hg0 and NO oxidation. An addition of a low-SO2 concen-
40%
tration of 500 ppm to flue gas had rendered a 100%
N mass balance from (NO 3- and NO 2-) in
20% effluent removal of NO (oxidation) and mercury on the opposite
side of the spectrum due to the lack of SO2. The same level
0% of NO and Hg removal was continued in the presence of
0.000 0.005 0.010 0.015 0.020 0.025 0.030
[ClO SO2 and was consistent until it reached 2,500 ppm where
2̄ ] in
[ClO Scrubber
-] in ScrubberSlurry,
Slurry,Molar
Molar
2
NO removal decreased to ~75%. The NOx (as NO2) scrub-
Fig. 3. Amount of NO and NOx removed as a function of chlorite bing followed a similar pattern with lower scrubbing with
concentration in the CaCO3 slurry. The inlet concentration of NO no SO2 addition, an increase with SO2 addition, and then a
was 200 ppm. The initial SO2 concentration was 1,500 ppm. decline at the highest SO2 addition.
Absorption of NOx, SO2, and Mercury in a Simulated... 1259

Effect of NO Concentration natural gas at approximately 158,000 kJ/h. The fuel was
introduced at the top of the furnace and combusted with air
The effect of varying NO concentration on NOx, SO2, from axial and tangential directions. Since the natural gas-
and Hg removals at 55ºC was performed under the follow- derived flue gas contained no SO2 and only small amounts
ing conditions: SO2 =1,500 ppm, Hg0 = 206 μg/m3, NaClO2 of NO, these components were doped from gas cylinders to
= 8.0 mM, CaCO3 = 10% (wt %), and the range of NO achieve the desired flue gas concentrations. Similar to the
varying from 0 to 470 ppm. The results presented in Fig. 6 Hg generated for bench-scale tests, gaseous Hg0 was pro-
illustrate that the absence of NO in flue gas affects mercury duced in a permeation oven (VICI Metronics
oxidation to a certain degree. At 0 ppm NO, the Hg oxida- Dynacalibrator) and was transported by air into the duct
tion and removal was approximately 82% and approached before the scrubber.
100% with increasing NO concentrations. NO was com- The spray tower where SO2, NOx, and Hg are scrubbed
pletely oxidized when NO concentrations were present consists of three turbulent contact absorbers (10-cm in
from 100-300 ppm, and decreased to approximately 65% at diameter). Each absorber is 92-cm in length, and contains
470 ppm NO. The NOx (as NO2) scrubbing followed a sim- plastic hollow balls (2-cm in diameter) to promote intimate
ilar pattern as NO. contact between flue gas and scrubbing slurry. The effluent
slurry from the spray tower was not discharged to the
Effect of Temperature underlying slurry hold tank, but rather to a discrete forced
oxidation tower. A flow of ~45 L/min air was sparged to the
Increasing temperature accelerates the reaction rate, but bottom of the forced oxidation tower to oxidize SO32- into
decreases gas solubility in the liquid. Additional experi- SO42-. The slurry overflowed back to a small hold tank posi-
ments were conducted to identify the effects of varying tioned below the scrubbing tower. Slurry in the hold tank
temperature. The temperatures that were evaluated ranged was subsequently delivered back to the top of the spray
from room temperature to 65ºC. Test conditions also
included the following: 8.0 mM NaClO2, 10% (wt) solid
120
slurry, 200 ppm NO, 1,500 ppm SO2, and 206 μg/m3 Hg.
The oxidation and removal percentage for NO, and Hg 100
holds the same across the testing range of temperature (Fig.
8). Temperature in the range of 25-65ºC had a negligible 80
effect on pollutant removal efficiences in these experimen-
tal conditions. 60

40
Pilot-Scale Demonstration
20
Tests were also conducted utilizing a pilot-scale scrub-
ber system as shown in Fig. 2. The system was consistent- 0
ly operated in the forced oxidation mode. Simulated flue 0 50
100 150 200
gas was generated from a down-fired cylindrical furnace, Time, min.
known as the innovative furnace reactor (IFR). Although it Fig. 7. Effect of nominal 1.62 M NaClO2 injection at 5 mL/min.
is capable of burning coal, the IFR is typically fired with (hold tank slurry pH=6.4).

120
Hg (gas analysis)
100
Amount Removed [%]
Amount Removed [%]

NO (gas analysis)
80

60 NOx (gas analysis)

40

20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500
Temperature [ºC]
NO
NOconcentration
Concentration in Scrubber,
Scrubber,ppm
ppm

Fig. 6. Amount of NO, NOx, and Hg removed as a function of Fig. 8. Amount of NO, NOx and Hg removed as a function of
varying concentration of NO in the entering gas. The entering temperature in the scrubber. The entering concentration of
concentration of NaClO2 added was 8 mM. SO2 concentration NaClO2 added was 8 mM. The inlet concentration of NO was
in entering gas was 1,500 ppm. 200 ppm. SO22 concentration – 1,500 ppm.
1260 Krzyżynska R., et al.

Table 2. Typical test conditions of the wet scrubber in the pilot- vs. time are plotted, flue gas Hg, NO, and NOx across the
scale experiments. scrubber rapidly declined following the NaClO2 injection.
Experimental Condition Parameter At steady state, ~65% of the Hg was removed from the flue
gas. Although NO and NOx across the scrubber declined as
Flue gas flow rate, L/min 850
well, these pollutants decreased at a diminishing rate. In
Inlet flue gas SO2 concentration, ppm 1,100±100 Fig. 7, ~32% of NO was oxidized into NOx, and only
Inlet flue gas NOx concentration, ppm 220±20 ~15% of total NOx was removal across the wet scrubber
system.
Flue gas O2 concentration, % 7-8
It appears that the multi-pollutant control across a wet
Flue gas CO2 concentration, % 6-7 scrubber system demands the addition of NaClO2, which
Hold tank slurry volume, L 10 is critical for initial Hg reduction. Efforts continued by
varying the NaClO2 addition concentration. The results
Hold tank pH 6.4 showed that the extent of scrubbed Hg increases with
Slurry recirculation rate to scrubber, L/min 2.2±0.2 increasing chlorite addition in the slurry, ranging from
~40% at 0.81 M NaClO2 up to ~70% at 1.62 M NaClO2.
Slurry recirculation rate to oxidation tower, L/min 30
However, the scrubbing for NO with pilot-scale wet
Hold tank slurry temperature, ºC 46±2 scrubber still ranged from 15 to 30% for selected NaClO2
Hg feed concentration, µg/Nm 3
17±2 injection rates. The addition rate of NaClO2 had little
effect on the scrubbing of NOx. It was observed that there
Hg2+ feed rate, µg/min 15±0.4 is a lower pollutant removal efficiency in pilot-scale test
NaClO2 addition concentration, M 1.62 than in the bench-scale. Further research will focus on
optimization of process conditions in order to increase
Air sparged to the forced oxidation tower, L/min 45
pollutants removal efficiencies in that type of multi-pollu-
Diameter of forced oxidation tower, cm 25.4 tant scrubber.

Chemistry in the Multi-Pollutant

Wet Scrubber
tower. NaClO2 solution was added approximately 0.3-m
According to the literature [14-16, 26-28] there are
away from the spray nozzle to reduce its potential con-
many possible reactions among the flue gas components
sumption by SO32- ions.
and NaClO2. The possible chemical reactions that may
The hold tank contained ~10 L of 5% (wt.) (CaSO4)
occur in a multi-pollutant wet scrubber fed by sodium chlo-
slurry during testing. The slurry was agitated to keep the
rite and slurry of calcium carbonate are presented below
solids uniformly suspended. The pH of the slurry was main-
(reactions 1-14).
tained by the addition of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which
is regulated through a feedback control loop from the lime- 4NO + ClO2¯ + 4OH¯ → 4NO2¯ + Cl¯ + 2H2O (1)
stone makeup tank. The concentrations of SO2, NOx, O2, 2NO + ClO2¯ + 2OH¯ → 2NO2¯ + ClO¯ + H2O (2)
and CO2, etc., were continuously monitored at both the 2NO2¯ + ClO2̄ → 2NO3¯ + Cl¯ (3)
scrubber inlet and outlet using continuous emission moni- 2NO + ClO2̄ → 2NO2 + Cl¯ (4)
toring systems (CEMs). Measurements of Hg0 were per- NO + ClO2¯ → NO2 + ClO¯ (5)
formed using ultraviolet (UV) spectrometers (Seefelder-Hg 4NO2 + ClO2¯ + 4OH¯ → 4NO3¯ + Cl¯ + 2H2O (6)
3000) at the scrubber inlet and outlet and at the outlet of the
2NO2 + H2O → HNO3 + HNO2 (7)
forced oxidation tower. The NOx species were measured
using a continuous chemiluminescence NOx analyzer 5SO2 + 2ClO2¯ + 6H2O → 5H2SO4 + 2HCl (8)
(model 200EH, Teledyne Technologies Company). The
+
SO2 + H2O → 2H + SO3 2-
(9)
SO2 species were measured using a continous 2H+ + SO32- + CaCO3 → CaSO3 + CO2 + H2O (10)
Fluorescenence SO2 analyzer (model 100 AH, Advanced CaSO3 + ½O2 → CaSO4 (11)
Pollution Instrumentation, Inc.) The test conditions for 2CaSO3 + ClO2¯ → 2CaSO4 + Cl¯ (12)
demonstration are shown in Table 2. 2Hg + ClO2̄ + 2H2O → 2Hg2+ + 4OH¯ + Cl¯ (13)
The resulting observation is illustrated in Fig. 7. Once
Hg + 4HNO3 → Hg(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O (14)
the operating conditions were stabilized, 1.62 M NaClO2 Analysis of experimental results further suggests that
and 3 μg/mL HgCl2 were continuously fed into the scrub- pH is of great importance for Hg oxidation as reflected in
ber at 5 mL/min. The addition of HgCl2 was to increase the reaction (13). By removing OH from the scrubber, or main-
accumulation of HgCl2 in the wet scrubber system to iden- taining a relatively low pH ( <7.0), Hg can be effectively
tify the potential re-emissions. As demonstrated in Fig. 7, oxidized. The effect of pH has just been studied and will be
where the exiting flue gas dimensionless concentrations published soon in another paper.
Absorption of NOx, SO2, and Mercury in a Simulated... 1261

Conclusions Further research will focus on optimizing process con-

ditions in order to increase pollutant removal efficiencies,
Our research demonstrated that sodium chlorite is an mainly of NOx.
effective additive for the simultaneous removal of SO2,
NOx, and Hg in wet scrubber simulators fed by limestone Acknowledgements
slurry in bench- and pilot-scale systems.
All bench-scale experiments resulted in SO2 removal This work was performed at the U.S. EPA and support-
ed by the Office of Research and Development (ORD).
efficiency near 100%. Small additions of chlorite as 5.0
Renata Krzyzynska is an Assistant Professor at Wrocław
mM resulted in nearly complete oxidation and removal of
University of Technology and was appointed to the
the NO. The NOx (NO2) removal increased with increasing
Postdoctoral Research Program at the National Risk
chlorite addition, ranging from 40% at 5.0 mM NaClO2 up
Management Research Laboratory in Research Triangle
to 60% at 25 mM NaClO2 in the added slurry. Mercury Park, NC, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for
removal efficiency was complete at 3.0 mM concentration Science and Education (ORISE) through an Interagency
of chlorite. Experiments with different concentrations of Agreement (BW89938167) between the U.S. Department
NO and SO2 showed that the oxidizer is less effective when of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. EPA. Dr. Yongxin Zhao is a
there is no SO2 and NO present in the flue gas. Mercury Research Engineer with Arcadis U.S., an on-site contractor
oxidation and subsequent removal was 80% when SO2 was to EPA/ORD in Research Triangle Park. Dr. Nick D.
not present. A similar pattern was observed for NO, where Hutson is a chemical engineer at the U.S. EPA in Research
50% of NO oxidation and only 20% of NOx (NO2) was Triangle Park. Mention of trade names of commercial prod-
removed in the case of no SO2 present in the simulated flue ucts and companies does not constitute endorsement or rec-
gas. These lower oxidation and removal efficiencies are ommendation for use.
likely connected with higher pH in the scrubber when acid
gas is not present. Lack of NO in flue gas also caused References
decreasing mercury oxidation and removal. Elemental mer-
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the scrubber liquor did not change significantly. NO oxida- 3. EPA Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) can be found at
tion was complete when the range of initial NO concenta- www.epa.gov/cair
4. EPA Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR) can be found at
tion in the flue gas varied from 100 to 300 ppm. At 470 ppm
www.epa.gov/mercuryrule/
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experiments was operated in forced oxidation mode to treat ous NOx removal in existing FGD installations, DOE/NETL
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and nitric oxide (NO). Test results showed that the additive, Catalytic Reduction for NOx Control, October, 2003.
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amount of Hgtotal captured in the scrubber and also is effec- ReACT Process Demonstration at Valmy Generating
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Apparently, for Hg and NO removals, the addition rate of Control “MEGA” Symposium, Baltimore, MD, paper 123,
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NaClO2 is of utmost importance. The extent of scrubbed Hg
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increases with increasing chlorite addition in the slurry, Coal-Fired Power Plants, Proceedings of the Clean Coal
ranging from about 40% at 0.81 M NaClO2 up to about and Power Conference Washington, DC November 21-22,
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efficient, ranging from 15-30% for the selected NaClO2 10. JIN D.S., DESHWAL B.R., PARK Y.S., LEE H. K.
Simultaneous Removal of SO2 and NO by Wet Scrubbing
injection rates. The addition rate of NaClO2 had little effect
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