title: The thief process for mercury removal from flue gas.
abstract: The Thief Process is a cost-effective variation to activated carbon injection (ACI) for removal of mercury from flue gas. In this scheme, partially combusted coal from the furnace of a pulverized coal power generation plant is extracted by a lance and then re-injected into the ductwork downstream of the air preheater. Recent results on a 500-lb/h pilot-scale combustion facility show similar removals of mercury for both the Thief Process and ACI. The tests conducted to date at laboratory, bench, and pilot-scales demonstrate that the Thief sorbents exhibit capacities for mercury from flue gas streams that are comparable to those exhibited by commercially available activated carbons. A patent for the process was issued in February 2003. The Thief sorbents are cheaper than commercially-available activated carbons; exhibit excellent capacities for mercury; and the overall process holds great potential for reducing the cost of mercury removal from flue gas. The Thief Process was licensed to Mobotec USA, Inc. in May of 2005.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, P.O. Box 10940 MS 58-106, Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940, USA. evan.granite@netl.doe.gov
authors.forename: Evan J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Granite
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hargis
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: O'Dowd
authors.forename: Henry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Pennline
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003031:Coal; D005740:Gases; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011210:Power Plants; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal; D005740:Gases; D008628:Mercury