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THE MERCURY CONTENT IN ENERGY BY-PRODUCTS
Abstract
The production of electricity and heat is based on a number of fuels, with fossil fuels being the most widely used fuels at present. Electricity is mainly produced by generating steam in boilers for the combustion of sorted fuel and feeding it to the turbine that drives the generator. Combustion plants are operated on demand and energy demand, either as large utility plants or as industrial combustion plants providing power in the form of electricity, mechanical energy, steam or heat for industrial production processes. However, burning fossil fuels results in a considerable environmental impact. The most significant air pollution emissions are gases (SO2, NOx, CO, CO2) and particulate matter (PM10). Other substances such as heavy metals, halogen compounds and dioxins are emitted in smaller quantities, and therefore they are referred to in general as ?trace elements?. During the combustion of coal or the energy treatment of waste, trace elements are released and emitted into the atmosphere in high amounts in the combustion products. These elements include mercury (Hg), which is counted among toxic (so-called heavy) metals and is classified as a strong neurotoxin. During combustion, mercury is released in the form of vapours as it is extremely volatile. The presence of sulphur and chlorine is the most important factor in the process of sorption of the major part of the mercury vapour on the surface of the ash particles in the separators of large combustion boilers. The remainder of mercury passes into the atmosphere where it can last for a long time, whether as Hg0, Hg2+ or bound to aerosol particles. The risk of groundwater contamination is the so-called sublimate or mercuric chloride (HgCl2), which is a highly toxic compound. On the contrary, it was not shown that mercury found in coal ash leachates at very low concentration levels was a risk factor. However, it should be noted that the dependence of the mercury concentration values in the leachate on the length of the leaching time has not yet been described in detail. Therefore, it is imperative that the monitoring of emissions, their evaluation, and the consistent implementation of legislative and technical-normative regulations be carried out with due care. Problems concerning energy by-products (EBP) will increase if higher mercury content in them needs to be considered. Therefore, the impact of currently discussed mercury reduction technologies in combustion products (i.e. by adding bromine or activated carbon) on the quality of EBP will need to be studied before these technologies are used. It is necessary to consider whether the increase in the permitted levels of mercury concentration will not only lead to the exceeding of the EBP limit values, but also problems with their acceptability for customers and consequently to a higher amount of EBP disposed of as hazardous waste.
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