Corn against mercury

 
Published: Sunday 30 September 2001

The carbon-injection process for removing mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants has been successfully completed at the University of Illinois Abbott Power Plant, in the US. The technology demonstration trials tested a commercial activated carbon and a corn-derived activated carbon developed by researchers at the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) and the university. This full-scale test capped a five-year collaborative effort to develop low-cost adsorbents for the removal of mercury," said Massoud Rostam-Abadi, chemical engineer and the head of energy and environmental engineering for the ISGS. Previously the researchers had tested the suitability of activated carbons derived from sources such as used tires and pistachio shells.

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.