Analytical methods for mercury analysis in coal and coal combustion by-products

Abstract

This review deals with the analysis of mercury present in different types of solid, liquid and gaseous samples involved in the coal combustion process, focusing on the specific characteristics of each type of sample and the problems typically associated with these products. The main aim of the paper is to describe the methods that, at the current stage of development, are preferable in each case (i.e. the most frequently used in most laboratories and the standard methods). The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed with reference to the quality of the results and the uncertainties involved in the evaluation of mercury behaviour during coal combustion processes.

Effects of NH4Br additive on mercury transformation and removal during CFB coal combustion

“…Otherwise, RSD should be less than 11%. 38 The RSD results in this study are in the right range, indicating the reliability of the experimental data. Table 3 shows that the average concentration of Hg 0 and Hg 2+ in the flue gas of the raw coal combustion is 2.003 and 2.434 μg m −3 , which accounts for 10.346% and 12.586% of the total input mercury, respectively.…”

“…In addition, OHM requires that when mercury emission concentration is less than 3 µg m −3 , relative standard deviation (RSD) should be less than 34%. Otherwise, RSD should be less than 11% . The RSD results in this study are in the right range, indicating the reliability of the experimental data.…”

Direct microplasma analysis of coals and sorbents for C, H, N, S and mineral element concentrations

“…Over the past two decades there have been several new ASTM standard test methods developed that introduced new analytical instrumentation for routine coal analysis [31]. Analytical techniques include inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), macro-thermogravimetric analyzer (macro-TGA), and automated elemental analyzers for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, mercury, arsenic, selenium, and chlorine [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. While these methods possess high sensitivity and accuracy, the instruments are neither mobile nor suitable for in situ applications -due to their size, weight, fragility and power requirements.…”

Development of a novel non-contact and quick-response detector for boron in coal fly ash based on thermal neutron absorptiometry

“…Simpler and faster methods in solid samples such as CFA have been reported. For example, chromium, arsenic, selenium, lead, and other metals are measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) [ 16 , 17 , 18 ], mercury is measured by pyrolysis AAS [19] , and fluorine is measured by combustion ion chromatograph [ 20 , 21 ]. However, such simple and rapid analysis methods of boron in CFA without acid digestion have not been reported.…”