Process for adsorption of mercury from gaseous streams

A process for removing mercury and organic compounds from gaseous streams using an adsorption powder, comprising a carbon-based powder selected from coal carbon, wood carbons, graphite carbons, activated carbons, coconut shell carbons, peat carbons, petroleum cokes and synthetic polymers, an effective amount of cupric chloride, and a component selected from calcium hydroxide, sulfur, potassium permanganate, potassium iodide and combinations thereof, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a solid phase mercury-containing contaminated soil into a rotary kiln/drum;
• b) heating the kiln/drum containing the soil to form mercury-containing gaseous and mercury-free solid components of the contaminated soil;
• c) transferring the mercury-containing gaseous component of the soil to an exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner, and transferring the mercury-free solid component of the soil to a cooling unit;
• d) heating the mercury-containing gaseous component in the exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner;
• e) cooling the mercury-containing gaseous component;
• f) adding the adsorption powder to the mercury-containing gaseous component to remove mercury from the gaseous component and produce a mercury-free gaseous component;
• g) transferring the mercury-containing powder and mercury-free gaseous components to a baghouse;
• and
• h) releasing the mercury-free gaseous component to the atmosphere.

A process for removing mercury and organic compounds from gaseous streams using a carbon-based adsorption powder, wherein the powder comprising about 38 weight percent of a carbon-based powder selected from coal carbon, wood carbons, graphite carbons, activated carbons, coconut shell carbons, peat carbons, petroleum cokes, synthetic polymers, and combinations thereof, about 58 weight percent of calcium hydroxide, about 4 weight percent of sulfur, and about 5 weight percent of cupric chloride, based on 105 total weight percent of powder, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a solid phase mercury-containing contaminated soil into a rotary kiln/drum;
• b) heating the kiln/drum containing the soil to a temperature of about 900° F. to form gaseous and solid components of the contaminated soil;
• c) transferring the gaseous component of the soil to an exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner, and transferring the solid component of the soil to a cooling unit;
• d) heating the gaseous component to a temperature of about 1800° F. in the exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner;
• e) cooling the gaseous component to a temperature of about 360° F. by adding water thereto to produce a high moisture gaseous component;
• f) adding the adsorption powder to the high moisture gaseous component to remove mercury therefrom and produce a mercury-free, powder-containing, gaseous component;
• g) transferring the powder-containing, gaseous component to a baghouse;
• and
• h) releasing the gaseous component to the atmosphere.

A process for removing mercury and organic compounds from gaseous streams using a carbon-based adsorption powder, wherein the powder comprising about 38 weight percent of a carbon-based powder selected from coal carbon, wood carbons, graphite carbons, activated carbons, coconut shell carbons, peat carbons, petroleum cokes, synthetic polymers, and combinations thereof, about 58 weight percent of calcium hydroxide, about 4 weight percent of sulfur, about 5 weight percent of potassium permanganate, and about 5 weight percent of cupric chloride, based on 110 total weight percent of powder, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a solid phase mercury-containing contaminated soil into a rotary kiln/drum;
• b) heating the kiln/drum containing the soil to a temperature of about 900° F. to form gaseous and solid components of the contaminated soil;
• c) transferring the gaseous component of the soil to an exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner, and transferring the solid component of the soil to a cooling unit;
• d) heating the gaseous component to a temperature of about 1800° F. in the exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner;
• e) cooling the gaseous component to a temperature of about 360° F. by adding water thereto to produce a high moisture gaseous component;
• f) adding the adsorption powder to the high moisture gaseous component to remove mercury therefrom and produce a mercury-free, powder-containing, gaseous component;
• g) transferring the powder-containing, gaseous component to a baghouse;
• and
• h) releasing the gaseous component to the atmosphere.