Mercury Emissions Capture Efficiency with Activated Carbon Injection at a Russian Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant

This scientific report presents the results of a collaborative test programme evaluating activated carbon injection for mercury emission control at a coal-fired thermal power plant in the Russian Federation. Testing was conducted at an eight megawatt pilot electrostatic precipitator slipstream using Kuznetsk coal. Baseline measurements showed approximately forty per cent mercury capture without sorbent. Injection of standard activated carbon increased total mercury removal to 67–80 per cent, while brominated activated carbon achieved up to 90 per cent removal at lower injection rates. The study also assessed leaching behaviour of mercury, arsenic and selenium in fly ash using regulatory and Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework methods, examining pH and liquid-to-solid ratio effects relative to drinking water standards.