Methods and sorbents for utilizing a hot-side electrostatic precipitator for removal of mercury from combustion gases

1. A method comprising:

(a) injecting a plurality of chemically-treated carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into a combustion gas stream such that at least a portion of any mercury or mercury-containing compounds in the gas stream are adsorbed onto at least a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles, wherein the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles comprise activated carbons produced from anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, coconut shell, wood or wood waste;

(b) collecting a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles from the combustion gas stream on at least one collection plate of a hot-side electrostatic precipitator while the combustion gas stream passes through the hot-side electrostatic precipitator at least about 230° C.;

(c) periodically rapping the at least one collection plate to release a substantial portion of the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into at least one hopper; and

(d) periodically emptying the at least one hopper,

wherein the rapping and emptying are conducted at rates such that less than about 70% of the mercury adsorbed onto the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles desorbs and reenters the combustion gas stream.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sorbent particles comprise a halogen or a halogen-containing compound.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sorbent particles comprise sulfur or a sulfur-containing compound.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the halogen comprises elemental bromine gas.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the halogen-containing compound comprises a bromine-containing salt.

6. A method comprising:

(a) injecting a plurality of carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into a combustion gas stream that is derived from a combustion fuel and combustion air, and adding a chemical substance to the combustion gas stream and/or to the combustion fuel and/or to the combustion air, such that at least a portion of any mercury or mercury-containing compounds in the gas stream are adsorbed onto at least a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles, wherein the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles comprise activated carbons produced from anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, coconut shell, wood or wood waste, and wherein said chemical substance is useful for increasing the mercury-adsorbing capability of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles;

(b) collecting a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles from the combustion gas stream on at least one collection plate of a hot-side electrostatic precipitator while the combustion gas stream passes through the hot-side electrostatic precipitator at least about 230° C.;

(c) periodically rapping the at least one collection plate to release a substantial portion of the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into at least one hopper; and

(d) periodically emptying the at least one hopper,

wherein the rapping and emptying are conducted at rates such that less than about 70% of the mercury adsorbed onto the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles desorbs and reenters the combustion gas stream.

7. A method comprising:

(a) injecting a plurality of carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into a combustion gas stream that is derived from a combustion fuel and combustion air, and adding a chemical substance to the combustion gas stream and/or to the combustion fuel and/or to the combustion air, such that at least a portion of any mercury or mercury-containing compounds in the gas stream are adsorbed onto at least a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles, wherein the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles comprise activated carbons produced from anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, coconut shell, wood or wood waste, and wherein said chemical substance comprises a halogen or a halogen-containing compound;

(b) collecting a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles from the combustion gas stream on at least one collection plate of a hot-side electrostatic precipitator while the combustion gas stream passes through the hot-side electrostatic precipitator at least about 230° C.;

(c) periodically rapping the at least one collection plate to release a substantial portion of the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into at least one hopper; and

(d) periodically emptying the at least one hopper,

wherein the rapping and emptying are conducted at rates such that less than about 70% of the mercury adsorbed onto the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles desorbs and reenters the combustion gas stream.

8. A method comprising:

(a) injecting a plurality of carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into a combustion gas stream such that at least a portion of any mercury or mercury-containing compounds in the gas stream are adsorbed onto at least a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles, wherein the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles comprise activated carbons produced from anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, coconut shell, wood or wood waste, and wherein at least a portion of said carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles have been formed by treatment of a carbonaceous substrate with a bromine or a bromine-containing compound;

(b) collecting a portion of the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles from the combustion gas stream on at least one collection plate of a hot-side electrostatic precipitator while the combustion gas stream passes through the hot-side electrostatic precipitator at least about 230° C.;

(c) periodically rapping the at least one collection plate to release a substantial portion of the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into at least one hopper and emptying the at least one hopper at a sufficient rate such that less than about 70% of the mercury adsorbed onto the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles desorbs and reenters the combustion gas stream.

9. A method for removing mercury and mercury-containing compounds from a combustion gas in an exhaust gas system with a hot-side electrostatic precipitator, comprising the steps of:

providing a carbonaceous substrate that has been derived from anthracite or bituminous coal;

treating the carbonaceous substrate with an effective amount of bromine or bromine containing salt for a sufficient time to increase the ability of the carbonaceous substrate to adsorb mercury and mercury-containing compounds;

injecting the carbonaceous substrate into a stream of the mercury-containing combustion gas for a sufficient time to allow an effective amount of the mercury and mercury-containing compounds in the combustion gas to attach onto the carbonaceous substrate;

electrostatically separating the carbonaceous substrate from the combustion gas stream on the collection plates of a hot-side electrostatic precipitator at a temperature of 230° C. (450° F.) or higher;

periodically rapping the collection plates to release the mercury-containing carbonaceous substrate into hoppers below; and

emptying the hoppers at a sufficient rate such that less than about 70% of the mercury adsorbed onto the collected carbonaceous substrate desorbs and reenters the combustion gas stream.