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Mercury-Binding Membranes for Flue Gas Cleanup--TPL, Inc., 3921 Academy Parkway North, NE, Albuquerque, NM  87109-4416; 505-342-4471

Dr. Franklin Kroh, Principal Investigator

Mr. James Lopez, Business Official

DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-00ER83113

Amount:  $99,997

 

Most of the human-generated mercury (Hg) entering the environment comes from stacks of coal-fired electric power plants and waste incinerators.  The mercury contaminates surface waters, fish, and fish eaters.  The EPA estimated a cost of $5 billion per year to clean Hg from flue gases of U.S. coal-fired power plants.  Strong, stable, highly porous membranes made of materials with high affinity and capacity for elemental mercury and its compounds, and little affinity for other compounds, will be produced.  High selectivity means high efficiency: no capacity is wasted on removing unnecessary compounds.  Membranes are easier to use than granular or powdered materials such as activated carbon.  A 70-fold cost savings is projected.  In Phase I, these membranes will be synthesized.  Materials will be evaluated for Hg capacity, porosity, pressure drop, temperature stability, strength, and compatibility with flue gases.  More detailed testing, using conditions mimicking actual flue conditions, will be performed on preferred formulations.  Discussions with operators of mercury-emitting facilities will identify partners for more extensive Phase II testing. 

 

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee:  Later this year, the EPA will issue standards for mercury emissions from the nation's 1043 coal-fired utility boilers at 426 facilities.  The dramatic cost savings of the proposed technology will offer power plants an attractive alternative to the $5 billion expense estimated by the EPA.  Since the U.S. relies heavily on coal for economical electricity for industry and households, the benefits are widespread.