Western Oil Shale Has a High Mercury Content

Up to 5x the amount in western coal per BTU

Goal: Determine the mercury content and disposition in Western Oil Shale Funding: Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement: DE-FC26-98FT40323, Base Task 2H0

Background
Oil Shale, as a mineral, has all of the potential environmental issues with processing as other minerals Mercury contamination in fuel sources has become an environmental focus in recent years How do the mercury issues with oil shale compare to that of coal?

Experimental Design
Oil shale samples were obtained from Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah The shale was milled to a size of 200mesh 100-gram samples were heated under an inert atmosphere the vapor was analyzed for mercury concentration

Objectives
Measure the mercury content of various western oil shales Determine the disposition of the mercury during thermal processing Compare the results to similar data for coal

Mercury Emissions from Coal and Oil Shale Combustion

Mercury Content Heating Value (g/kg) (Btu/lb) PRB Coal Wyoming Oil Shale Utah Oil Shale Colorado Oil Shale 150 98 80 59 9000 1275 2521 1741 Mercury (mg/MM Btu) 7.6 34.9 14.4 15.4

The Mercury Vaporizes Quickly When Heated

80% of the Mercury is Removed at 300oC Much of the mercury entrains in the vapor phase

1000 Hg Conc (ug/Nm3) 800 600 400 200 0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 Test Time (hours) Hg data Temp data

500 400 300 200 100 0 Oven Temp (deg C)

Test Results: 200C Desorption

Initial Sample Mass Final Sample Mass Mass Reduction 103.6 g 101.4 g 3.3 %

Initial Mercury Content 98 g/kg Final Mercury Content Mercury Liberated 72 g/kg 28 %

Test Results: 300C Desorption

1000 Hg Conc (ug/Nm3) 500 400 300 200 100 0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 Test Time (hours) Hg data Temp data Oven Temp (deg C)

Initial Sample Mass Final Sample Mass Mass Reduction

100.2 g 96.9 g 3.4 %

800 600 400 200 0

Initial Mercury Content 98 g/kg Final Mercury Content 18 g/kg Mercury Liberated 82 %

Test Results: 450C Desorption

1000 Hg Conc (ug/Nm3) 800 600 400 200 0 0.0 0.5 1.0 Test Time (hours) Hg data Temp data 1.5 2.0 500 400 300 200 100 0 Oven Temp (deg C)

Initial Sample Mass Final Sample Mass Mass Reduction Initial Mercury Content Final Mercury Content Mercury Liberated

101.9 g 93.0 g 8.7 % 98 g/kg

<10 g/kg

>91 %

There May Be a Solution

Summary: Most of the mercury present in oil shale will be liberated during thermal processing. Depending on conditions, the mercury could be released in multiple chemical states. There may be an off-the-shelf commercial solution.
Vapor Phase Oxidized Mercury (Hg2+)
Sorbent Technologies Activated Carbon (Impregnated, Thief Carbon, Activated Char) Metal Oxide Ceramics (Cobalt-Alumina, Chromium-Alumina)

Vapor Phase Reduced Mercury (Hg0)

Sorbent Technologies Amended Silicates

Aqueous Mercury (Hg2+)

Water Treatment Technologies Chemical Leaching, Precipitation, Amalgamation

Hydrocarbon Phase Mercury (Hg0)

Sorbent Technologies Amended Silicates