• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 1998

The amount of mercury emitted from an incinerator depends on the properties of waste, combustion condition, and control devices. Mercury concentration in air proportionates to the increase of incinerator installation. The purpose of this study is to provide a method for determination of mercury emission factor which can predict the amount of mercury emitted from each incinerator specifically. Case study was performed for N municipal waste incinerator. Based on the method presented in this paper, we obtained mercury emission factor as 1.85~1.95 g Hg/t at N Municipal Waste Incinerator and this result was regarded as reasonable when compared with existing mercury emission factor in reference cases. Fluorescent lamps turned out to be the most important source(44.4%) of mercury in municipal waste and its amount will tend to increase, while batteries become less significant. In addition, medical waste is one of the major source of mercury.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2009

This paper reviews the current status of mercury research on exposure and contamination, mercury emissions, emission limits and control technologies, long-range transport and deposition research, and mercury management policy in Korea. According to a monitoring of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, blood mercury levels among Koreans are $5{\sim}8$ times higher than those of U.S. and Germany. The most dominant source of exposure to mercury is through dietary intake. Emissions of mercury from coal-fired power plants are estimated 8.93 ton/year in 2004. Emissions of mercury from other important sources, such as waste incineration, steel and cement manufacturing and non-ferrous metal smelting operations are to be further investigated. A study on long-range transport of mercury suggests that the dry deposition flux over the Yellow Sea was much greater than those for other oceans. As a whole, the amounts of wet depositions of nitrogen and sulfur were 1.9 and 1.5 times larger than the amounts of dry depositions in each species, respectively. Substantial influence from China caused by high emissions in East China and westerly wind was possibly suggested. However, the influence from nitrogen emission in Korea was also confirmed. Korean Government has already adopted stringent emission limits on mercury for incinerators and boilers in 2005. However, emission limits for coal-fired power plants and non-ferrous metal smelters are rather relaxed. As the above mentioned two sources can be two most important sources of mercury emissions, control strategy for those sources are to be considered.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2004

The emission characteristics of mercury in waste incinerators were investigated to get basic data for the policy development on the emission reduction of mercury (Hg). For the study several important factors were analysed from 4 incinerators such as mercury concentration, emission factors and removal rate for control devices. The results are listed below. Mercury concentrations in the flue gas were 0.39～5.96 $\mu\textrm{g}$/S㎥ in MWI and 2.5～8.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/S㎥ in IWI. The distributions of gaseous and particulate mercury in flue gas were above 99% and below 1 %, respectively. Therefore, in order to remove mercury effectively, it is important to control the gaseous mercury. Mercury concentrations in fly ash collected from control device were found as 16.2～35.6 mg/kg- ash in FF of MWI. Also mercury concentrations at the front and back point of control device of MWI were 33.45～62.65 $\mu\textrm{g}$/S㎥ and 0.88～3.49 $\mu\textrm{g}$/S㎥, respectively. Emission factors were estimated as 3.67～11.67 mg/ton in FF, 2.6～24.5 mg/ton in MWI with SNCR, SDR and FF, 54.9～192.7 mg/ton in IWI with Cyclone and FF. Emissions from Municipal Waste Incinerator were found both in minimum and maximum ranges. Annual mercury emissions emitted from MWI was estimated as 20.0 kg (6.0～33.9 kg).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.193-207
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• 2016

This study discusses the present status of mercury emission and distribution from major anthropogenic sources in Korea and the future trend of mercury emission by activity changes and application of BATs. Atmospheric mercury emission from major anthropogenic sources based on Annex D of Minamata convention was estimated to around 4.89 tonne in 2012. Emission ratios of cement clinker production, coal-fired power plant, waste incineration and non-ferrous metal smelting were 68.68%, 24.75%, 6.29% and 0.28%, respectively. High mercury emission regions were characterized by the presence of cement clinker production facilities and coal-fired power plants. Prediction of future activities was carried out by linear regression of the previous year data. The (total) mercury emission was estimated to decrease up to 48% Under the scenario of BATs to be applied and the change of future activities. Emissions from coal-fired powerplants and cement clinkers were expected to decrease significantly.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2017

Recently, there has been growing interest in the emission characteristics and behavior of anthropogenic mercury compounds from emission sources. It is required to establish a standard for reliable mercury measurement method. Therefore, this study has evaluated the applicability of the new measurement method; Continuous Emission Monitoring (US EPA 30A, CEM). In addition, the reliability evaluation was conducted through Ontario Hydro Method (ASTM D6784, OHM) and Sorbent trap method (US EPA Method 30B). As a monitoring result for three months via CEM from cement kiln, the maximum mercury compounds concentration was about $600{\mu}g/Sm^3$. This is because of the various of raw materials and fuel, and the absence of mercury-control device. The mercury compounds concentrations of OHM, Sorbent trap and CEM were 13.64 $(3.33{\sim}32.41){\mu}g/Sm^3$, $13.94(5.97{\sim}23.44){\mu}g/Sm^3$ and $14.68(6.19{\sim}26.75){\mu}g/Sm^3$, respectively. The relative standard deviations (% RSD) of the three methods were 5.1~40.9%. The result of this study suggest that it is possible to apply the CEM in the cement kiln when, QA/QC such as calibration is verified.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.172-181
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• 2012

Mercury is one of the most hazardous air pollutants. Recently, mercury has been a concern in domestic and overseas because it has lethal toxicity, long distance transport, persistence and bioaccumulation in the environment. Stationary combustion sources such as coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, and cement kilns are the major sources of mercury emissions. The objectives of this study were to measure the concentration for mercury from coal-fired power plants and to calculate emission factor to estimate its emission. The results showed that the mercury concentrations in the flue gas were 1.63-3.03 mg/$Sm^3$ in anthracite-fired power plants (average 2.32 mg/$Sm^3$) and 1.95-3.33 mg/$Sm^3$ in bituminous-fired power plants (average 2.6 mg/$Sm^3$). Mercury emission factor was estimated as 25.74 mg/ton for anthracite-fired power plants and 12.48 mg/ton for bituminous-fired power plants. Because actual measurements are limited in quantity, it is desirable to refine our estimates by extending the actual measurements.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.238-248
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• 2008

This study investigated mercury emission at various combustion conditions and analyzed mercury species in flue gas from coal combustion at a laboratory scale furnace in coal. The results of this study can be used to predict and to assess mercury emission at coal boilers and power plants. The coal used in the plants generally contains about $0.02{\sim}0.28\;mg$ of mercury per kg. Bituminous and anthracite coal used for the experiment contained 0.049 and 0.297 mg/kg of mercury, respectively. Mercury emissions during coal combustion at temperatures range of $600^{\circ}C$ to $1,400^{\circ}C$ was measured and analysed using Ontario Hydro method; the speciation changes were also observed in mercury emissions. The results showed higher fraction of elemental mercury than that of oxidised mercury at most temperatures tested in this experiment. The fraction of elemental mercury was lower in combustion of anthracite coal than in bituminous combustion. As expected, equilibrium calculations and real power plants data showed good similarity. The distribution of particle size in flue gas had the higher peak in size above $2.5\;{\mu}m$. However the peak of mercury enrichment in dust was at $0.3\;{\mu}m$, which could be easily emitted into atmosphere without filtration in combustion system. When the CEA(Chemical equilibrium and Application) code was used for combustion equilibrium calculation, Cl was found to be the important component effecting mercury oxidation, especially at the lower temperatures under $900^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.378-387
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• 2004

This study was carried to investigate the emission characteristics of mercury from domestic and industrial MSW (municipal solid waste) incinerator stacks. The mercury concentration levels of flue gas from 32 MSW incinerators stacks selected were above the criteria level ($5{\mu}g/S\;m^3$). MSWI facilities exceeding the criteria levels in Korea are due to the poor units comparison of combustion chamber(CC)-cyclone(CY)-stack. So, the mercury from MSW incinerators stack were suspected to contaminate the natural system unless the MSW incinerators were properly controlled. Mean-while, the relationship between mercury concentration and temperature of flue gas in MSW incinerator stacks were examined at two temperature ranges (Group A : $29.85{\sim}327.63^{\circ}C$, Group B : $446.9{\sim}848.15^{\circ}C$). The mercury concentration in flue gas with high temperature range was higher than that of flue gas with low temperature rage. This mean that the temperature of flue gas plays an important role in mercury control in MSW incinerator. The emission characteristics oi mercury was also evaluated by using the correlation matrix between the mercury and NOx, $PM_{10}$, moisture (MO.) at both low temperature and high temperature flue gas ranges. The mercury concentration was mainly affected by NOx, $PM_{10}$. moisture (MO.) at low temperature range, while the mercury concentration at high temperature flue gas was mainly affected by NOx, moisture (MO.). From these results, it was suggested that the temperature of cooling system and the air pollution control device should be properly regulated in order to control mercury of flue gas in MSWI incinerator.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2018

The Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force on August 16, 2017. It requires Parties to the Convention to control and, where feasible, reduce mercury emissions from the listed sources. To implement the Convention, Japan amended the Air Pollution Control Law and added clauses that force operators to control their mercury emissions below emission limit values (ELVs). The ELVs have been established separately for new and existing sources, targeting the source categories listed in the Convention: coal-fired boilers, smelting and roasting processes used in the production of non-ferrous metals (lead, zinc, copper and industrial gold), waste incineration facilities and cement clinker production facilities. The factors used to establish the ELVs include the present state of mercury emissions from the targeted categories as well as the mercury content in fuels and materials, best available techniques (BATs) and best environmental practices (BEPs) to control and reduce mercury emissions and ELVs or equivalent standards to control mercury emissions in other countries. In this regard, extensive data on mercury emissions from flue gas and the mercury content of fuels and materials were collected and analyzed. The established ELVs range from $8{\mu}g/Nm^3$ for new coal-fired boilers to $400{\mu}g/Nm^3$ for existing secondary smelting processes used in the production of copper, lead and zinc. This paper illustrates the ELVs for the targeted source categories, explaining the rationales and approaches used to set the values. The amended Law is to be enforced on April 1, 2018. From future perspectives, checks of the material flow of mercury, following up on the state of compliance, review of the ELVs and of the measurement and monitoring methods have been noted as important issues.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.335-343
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• 2012

Mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from various natural and anthropogenic sources, and degrades with difficulty in the environment. Mercury exists as various species, mainly elemental ($Hg^0$) and divalent ($Hg^{2+}$) mercury depending on its oxidation states in air and water. Mercury emitted to the atmosphere can be deposited into aqueous environments by wet and dry depositions, and some can be re-emitted into the atmosphere. The deposited mercury species, mainly $Hg^{2+}$, can react with various organic compounds in water and sediment by biotic reactions mediated by sulfur-reducing bacteria, and abiotic reactions mediated by sunlight photolysis, resulting in conversion into organic mercury such as methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg can be bioaccumulated through the food web in the ecosystem, finally exposing humans who consume fish. For a better understanding of how humans are exposed to mercury in the environment, this review paper summarizes the mechanisms of emission, fate and transport, speciation chemistry, bioaccumulation, levels of contamination in environmental media, and finally exposure assessment of humans.