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Content archived on 2023-01-02

Mercury detection device for continuous monitoring of emissions

Objective

The project is to develop, manufacture, and test a sampling and measuring device for the continuous determination of mercury and its compounds in the flue gas of incineration plants. In addition, the sampling device will be capable of collecting other heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, copper, manganese, and nickel. Mercury will be determined photometrically. The detection limit for Hg is approximately 2 mug/m3. The tests will take place in the industrial environment of a municipal waste incineration plant.

The basic principle of the device has been patented.
A device for the continuous control mercury has been recently developed. The measuring device consists of a sampling part and the measuring part proper. The isokinetic sampling device is capable of sampling not only mercury but other heavy metals as well, such as copper, nickel, zinc, tin, antimony, barium, lead and manganese. The average mercury retrieval is approximately 93%.

The measuring device proper determines the mercury concentration in the dried flue gas by ultraviolet atomic absorption (UVAA) photometry. The detection limit is approximately 2 microgrammes per cubic metre. The measuring device may be calibrated at any time, allowing for the check of the zero and reference points and of the linearity of the device. Idle time between each taking is in the range of milliseconds; the measured values are shown on the monitor every 2 seconds; the measuring protocols may average the values to convenience. Overall standard deviations are approximately 5%; thus, the device can be used for process control.

Further extensions of the measuring device are possible to allow for the determination of heavy metals other than mercury.

The device has been successfully tested and optimized for several months in the heavy duty industrial environment of the flue gas stack of a municipal waste incineration plant. Working entirely automatically, the device meets the need for a reference device for the control of emissions from refuse incinerators, as stipulated by the EC Directive 89/369.
Mercury (Hg) and its compounds are highly toxic chemicals; emissions from plants, such as waste incinerators, should be prevented as far as possible. Typically, filters are used in order to remove the remaining emissions; for new municipal refuse incineration plants, the EC Directive 89/369 limits Hg emissions after the filters to 200 mug/m3. A device for the continuous control of Hg has been recently developed by the Essen-based VEREWA MESS- UND REGELTECHNIK GMBH. The EC Commission assisted the development and testing of an industrial-environment measuring device at 50 % of the project costs.

The Hg measuring device consists of a sampling and the measuring part proper. The isokinetic sampling device is capable of sampling not only Hg but other heavy metals as well, such as Cu, Ni, Zn, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pb, Mn. The average Hg retrieval statistics is approximately 93 %.

The measuring device proper determines the Hg concentration in the dried flue gas by UV AA photometry, the detection limit is approximately 2 mug/m3. The measuring device may be calibrated at any time, allowing for the check of the zero and reference points and of the linearity of the device. Idle time between each taking is in the range of ms; the measured values are shown on the monitor every 2 seconds; the measuring protocols may average the values to convenience. Overall standard deviations are approximately 5 %; thus, the device can be used for process control.

Further extensions of the measuring device are possible to allow for the determination of heavy metals other than Hg as well.

The device has been successfully tested and optimized for several months in the heavyªduty industrial environment of the flue gas stack of a municipal waste incineration plant. Working entirely automatically, the device meets the need for a refeence device for the control of emissions from refuse incinerators, as stipulated by the EC Directive 89/369.

Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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Coordinator

Verewa Meß- und Regeltechnik GmbH
EU contribution
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Address
Eppinghofer Straße 92-94
45468 Mülheim an der Ruhr
Germany

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Total cost
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