Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Mercury content of the Springfield coal, Indiana and Kentucky

January 1, 2005

With pending regulation of mercury emissions in United States power plants, its control at every step of the combustion process is important. An understanding of the amount of mercury in coal at the mine is the first step in this process. The Springfield coal (Middle Pennsylvanian) is one of the most important coal resources in the Illinois Basin. In Indiana and western Kentucky, Hg contents range from 0.02 to 0.55 ppm. The variation within small areas is comparable to the variation on a basin basis. Considerable variation also exists within the coal column, ranging from 0.04 to 0.224 ppm at one Kentucky site. Larger variations likely exist, since that site does not represent the highest whole-seam Hg nor was the collection of samples done with optimization of trace element variations in mind. Estimates of Hg capture by currently installed pollution control equipment range from 9-53% capture by cold-side electrostatic precipitators (ESP) and 47-81% Hg capture for ESP + flue-gas desulfurization (FGD). The high Cl content of many Illinois basin coals and the installation of Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx enhances the oxidation of Hg species, improving the ability of ESPs and FGDs to capture Hg. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Publication Year 2005
Title Mercury content of the Springfield coal, Indiana and Kentucky
DOI 10.1016/j.coal.2005.03.018
Authors J.C. Hower, Maria Mastalerz, A. Drobniak, J.C. Quick, C.F. Eble, M.J. Zimmerer
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title International Journal of Coal Geology
Index ID 70028211
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse