Mercury and Air Toxic Element Impacts of Coal Combustion By-Product Disposal and Utilization
Initiated in January 2003, a 3-year $1.5 million University of North Dakota Energy & Environmental Research Center research project is taking a comprehensive look at the potential release of mercury and other air toxic elements from coal combustion by-products (CCBs).

Objectives
1.Determine the release potential of selected air toxic elements, including mercury and arsenic, from CCBs under specific environmental-related conditions.
2.Create a database of information on mercury and other air toxic element releases for CCBs.
3.Evaluate the specific mechanisms of release, including leaching release, vapor release to the atmosphere either through disposal and use or processing of CCBs, and trace element release through the action of microbes.

Results
This effort will result in improvements to existing technologies by:
Providing comparative information on CCBs from systems with various emission controls, which will aid utilities in selecting emission control technologies consistent with existing CCB management plans.
Developing scientifically sound experimental protocols for determining air toxic releases from CCBs based on CCB properties and management scenarios.
Providing information to the state and federal agencies that regulate disposal and utilization options.

Reports/Presentations
Final Report, Mercury and Air Toxic Element Impacts of Coal Combustion By-Product Disposal and Utilization, October 2007
Laboratory Methods for the Evaluation of Potential Release of Mercury from Coal Utilization By-Products, Topical Report, April 2005
Leaching Characteristics of Fly Ash–Activated Carbon From Mercury Control Technologies, December 2004
Mercury Information Clearinghouse, Quarter 4 – Rerelease of Mercury from Coal Combustion By-Products, October 2004
Mercury Impacts on By-Product Management, Presented at DOE NETL's Mercury Control Technology R&D Program Review Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, July 14-15, 2004

Contact
Debra Pflughoeft-Hassett
Research Manager
(701) 777-5261
dphassett@undeerc.org

Project Partners
Center for Air Toxic Metals Affiliates
Cinergy
EPRI
Great River Energy
North Dakota Industrial Commission Lignite Research Council
U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory
Utility Solid Waste Activities Group

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