Grantee Research Project Results
Heavy Metals Emissions Control by Co-Firing MSW and Coal
EPA Contract Number: 68D50111Title: Heavy Metals Emissions Control by Co-Firing MSW and Coal
Investigators: Bool III, Lawrence E.
Small Business: Physical Sciences Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1995 through March 1, 1996
Project Amount: $65,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , SBIR - Waste , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
Incineration of Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) often results in the emission of toxic heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium. Previous work has demonstrated the ability of some aluminosilicates sorbents, including common coal-borne minerals, to capture lead and cadmium vapors and, thereby, prevent their emission. Lead and cadmium capture by such sorbents have been shown to be non-leachable. PSI Technologies, therefore, proposes a unique process for heavy metals control: co-incineration of coal and MSW. Methods developed at PSI Technologies will ensure selection of the optimum coal, giving cost-effective metals removal. The coal-borne minerals will act as in-situ metal sorbents while the presence of coal will help to stabilize feed quality in MSW incinerators.In the Phase I effort, PSI Technologies will explore the feasibility the proposed metals control strategy by utilizing a carefully selected coal to capture lead and cadmium during combustion. Metal vapors, coal, and chlorine will be combined in various combinations in an entrained flow reactor and ash collected to determine capture efficiency and product leachability. Phase II will explore important coal characteristics, with the goal of providing a coal selection methodology, and demonstrating the process on a pilot scale unit.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, engineering, chemistry., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Toxics, Waste, Municipal, Environmental Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry and Materials Science, 33/50, Environmental Engineering, Incineration/Combustion, airborne lead, cadmium & cadmium compounds, aluminosilicate sorbents, lead & lead compounds, co-firing MSW and coal, lead, pollution control technologies, municipal waste, coal, emission controls, sorbent technology, emissions control, heavy metal emissions, waste incineration, in situ metal sorbents, waste management, metal vapors, incineration, municipal solid wasteProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.