Abstract
Globally, coal-fired power plants are the largest industrial source of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 emissions from flue gas have potential for direct mineralization with electrostatic precipitator fly ash particles in the field. Demonstration scale accelerated mineral carbonation (AMC) studies were conducted at the Jim Bridger Power Plant, a large coal fired power plant located in Wyoming, USA. AMC produces kinetically rapid conditions for increased rates of mineralization of CO2, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and mercury (Hg) on fly ash particles. Control and AMC reacted fly ash particles were investigated for: change in carbon (expressed as CaCO3), sulfur (expressed as SO42−), and mercury (Hg) contents; topology and surface chemical composition by scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis; chemical distribution of trace elements; and aqueous mineral solubility by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. Results of the AMC process show an increase in C, S, and Hg on AMC fly ash particles suggesting that multiple pollutants from flue gas can be removed through this direct mineral carbonation process. Results also suggest that the AMC process shifts soluble trace elements in fly ash to less leachable mineral fractions. The results of this study can provide insight into potential successful field implementation of AMC.
Highlights
In 2012, coal fired power plants were responsible for 37% of electrical generation in the UnitedStates [1]
The focus of the research in this paper is aimed at reducing emissions from coal-fired power plants using a novel method of mineral carbonation of flue gas CO2 with power plant fly ash particles
A model for fly ash particles has been proposed [46], with the particles composed of a thin exterior surface of differing composition from the interior of the fly ash particle
Summary
In 2012, coal fired power plants were responsible for 37% of electrical generation in the UnitedStates [1]. 70% of China’s [2] and 40% of India’s [3] total energy were supplied by coal in 2012. The size of these three countries highlights the importance coal plays in the domestic and global energy portfolio. The products of the coal combustion process are flue gas and solid byproducts (e.g., fly ash particles, bottom ash, and boiler slag). Flue gas CO2 emissions from coal fired power plants totaled 1718 Mt in the USA in 2011 [4]. Total annual solid byproducts in the USA are approximately 130 Mt, of which roughly 70 Mt is fly ash particles. The use of fly ash particles for beneficial purposes varies worldwide; for example, it is 30% in India and China [5,6], whereas it is nearly 100% in Germany and
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