ASTM WK24211 to Evaluate Control of Coal-Fired Power Plant Mercury Emissions From Flue Gases
October 1, 2009 // Published as a news service by IHS
ASTM International is developing ASTM WK24211 - Guide for Determination of Hg Adsorption Capacity of Powdered Activated Carbons Used for Removal of Hg from Flue Gas.
The standard will evaluate the performance of activated carbon for removal of elemental mercury (Hg) in a simulated flue gas.
According to ASTM, mercury emissions from flue gases in coal-fired power plants are a large source of atmospheric mercury in the U.S., but no standard for determination of mercury adsorption currently exists.
One method of controlling these emissions involves the injection of powdered activated carbon into the flue gas, experts said.
ASTM WK24211 is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee D28.04 on Gas Phase Evaluation Tests, part of ASTM Committee D28 on Activated Carbon.
Larry Brey, chair of D28.04, said primary users of ASTM WK24211 will be manufacturers of activated carbons and companies that sell and install mercury emissions control systems to power utilities.
In addition, utilities might use the standard in evaluating commercially available activated carbons for use in their facilities.
"This is a completely new and potentially very large market for activated carbon and one of great interest to all manufacturers of activated carbons," said Brey. "This is also important to the environmental and regulatory agencies since coal-fired power plants are a significant contributor to atmospheric mercury emissions."
Source: ASTM International.