The EERC is internationally recognized for its groundbreaking work in the development of control technologies to reduce emissions from mobile and stationary sources worldwide (SO₃, NO_x, SO₂, and CO₂, mercury, and fine particulate matter). The EERC’s Emission Control Technologies Center has conducted hundreds of industry-driven projects ranging from fundamental studies of system interactions to pilot- and full-scale slipstream testing of advanced technologies that offer solutions to meet clean air requirements well into the next century.

The EERC has the facilities and expertise to develop, test, and commercialize retrofit options for acid gas control and particulate removal as well as state-of-the-art technologies for use in new facilities. Additionally, EERC facilities provide an ideal setting to conduct well-controlled simulations critical to the design of the next generation of equipment needed to meet future inorganic and organic emission regulations for utilities, incinerators, refineries, and other industrial sources.

In addition to removing air toxics and particulate matter from emissions, the EERC is focused on environmentally sound uses for, and disposal of, these constituents. The EERC has extensive experience in waste utilization for value-added products, appropriate disposal practices, environmental monitoring, and land reclamation.

Atmospheric Emission Control

The EERC is a world leader in the development of technologies to remove SO₂ (sulfur dioxide), SO₃ (sulfur trioxide), NO_x (nitrogen oxides), and other particulate matter from coal-fired power plants and other industrial sources. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the EERC as the Center for Air Toxic Metals ^® (CATM^®). CATM focuses on research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of technologies to minimize the environmental impact of mercury and other air toxic metal pollutants on the environment worldwide. Through partnerships with government agencies, industry, and environmental groups, CATM has answered critical questions concerning:

• Potential health risks.
• Toxic metal transformations.
• Sampling and measurement of toxic metal emissions.
• Related toxic metal control technologies.

Center for Air Toxic Metals

Mercury Control

The EERC is recognized worldwide for expertise in understanding mercury in air, soil, and water and for research to develop valid techniques for measuring mercury emissions from power plants. The mercury emitted into the atmosphere from the stacks of coal-fired boilers has been mandated to be regulated by EPA. The EERC is developing and testing technologies to control mercury emissions from a variety of fuel ranks in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Mercury Control and Measurement

Fish, Mercury, and Nutrition

Advanced Hybrid Particulate Collector

The EERC is commercializing EERC-developed particulate control technologies. The patented advanced hybrid particulate collector technology underwent full-scale demonstration at Otter Tail Power Company's Big Stone, South Dakota, power plant, and in Cagnano, Italy, at a cement kiln owned by Sacci. Both facilities demonstrated greater than 99.99% control of fine-particle emissions.

Field Sampling

Implementing regulations to control mercury emissions has led to a significant increase in research that involves measuring mercury in flue gas emissions at power plants across the country. The EERC has the unique ability to perform sampling and analysis in the field while at the same time maintaining an exceptionally high level of quality control and quality assurance. Sampling crews ranging from four to 14 researchers and technicians annually travel to nearly a dozen locations across North America, using state-of-the-art equipment to monitor emissions at power plants for up to 30 days in duration.

Waste Utilization and Disposal

Substances removed with atmospheric emission control technology must be properly utilized or disposed of. The EERC has extensive experience in waste utilization and disposal, particularly in mined land settings. The EERC works with coal combustion by-product (CCB)-related issues and promotes the environmentally safe, technically sound, and economically viable utilization and disposal of these highly complex materials.

Coal Ash Utilization and Management

The EERC’s Coal Ash Research Center is dedicated to improving the technical and economic aspects of coal ash by-product management. Its multifaceted team of researchers takes a comprehensive approach to solving a wide array of by-product issues from utilization to disposal.

Capabilities

• Environmental analysis
• Engineering evaluations
• Market research
• Product development
• Field demonstrations

The Coal Ash Research Center is a consortium of industry and government representatives, scientists, and engineers working together toward a common goal: to advance coal ash utilization. Specifically, the Coal Ash Research Center works to solve coal combustion by-product (CCB)-related problems and promote the environmentally safe, technically sound, and economically viable utilization and disposal of these highly complex materials.

Founded in 1985, the Coal Ash Research Center has made the following advancements in the area of coal ash utilization:

• Generation of scientific and engineering information applicable to CCB regulations and specifications.
• Development of improved CCB characterization methods.
• Demonstration of new and improved CCB use applications.
• Transfer of technical information and technology.

Coal Ash Research Center