With the passage of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS), utilities and independent power producers are challenged with ensuring compliant operation of their electric generating units without sacrificing availability or operational flexibility.

Mercury is a neurotoxin that occurs naturally in coal and other fossil fuels. When burned, most of the mercury becomes a gas, which if not captured is emitted to the atmosphere, eventually settling into bodies of water.

Microorganisms in the water convert the mercury to methylmercury. As a result of bioaccumulation, mercury levels in predatory fish like tuna or sharks can be especially pronounced. Humans are most commonly exposed to mercury through the consumption of "contaminated" fish or shellfish. As a result, power plants are one of the largest contributors to mercury exposure by humans.

AECOM Process Technologies is an industry leader in the development, evaluation and commercialization of mercury removal and control technologies for coal-fired power plants. Our engineers have hands-on experience with the major mercury removal and control technologies being offered and have conducted measurement and technology demonstration programs at more than 65 coal-fired power plants.

Process Technologies' mercury removal and control experience ranges from laboratory investigations, to pilot- and full-scale demonstration programs, to commercial installations. We have evaluated, designed, installed, and/or operated numerous mercury control technologies and quantified their performance, including:

• FGD additives for controlling mercury re-emissions
• FGD chemistry tuning for controlling mercury re-emissions
• Mercury sorbent evaluations
• Chemical addition for enhanced mercury oxidation and removal by FGD
• Activated carbon injection (ACI) for mercury control
• Combustion controls for mercury emission reduction

We also offer several technologies, either developed internally or licensed, for the direct or indirect control of mercury emissions.