A method for reducing the emission of contaminants by a furnace is provided. The method includes forming a bed from a stream of fuel within the furnace; fluidizing the bed with flue gas from the furnace; and heating the fuel within the bed so as to generate char, ash and contaminants. The method further includes capturing the contaminants via the ash.

A process for obtaining carbon dioxide from furnace combustion fumes is provided. The process comprises removing water vapour occurring in combustion fumes through successive gas compression and expansion steps; separating carbon dioxide from oxygen and nitrogen through the use of a filter comprising a gas-separating material, including fullerenes and zeolites, to obtain substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide; subsequently optionally producing dry ice through further steps of compression and expansion of the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide obtained in the preceding steps.

A multi-functional composition of matter that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream to rapidly and efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas streams, particularly at above average flue stream temperatures of about 340 F. or higher. The multi-functional composition of matter may include a fixed carbon content of at least about 20 wt. %, a mineral content of from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, a sum of micropore plus mesopore volume of at least about 0.20 cc/g, a micropore volume to mesopore volume ratio of at least about 0.7, and a tapped density of not greater than about 0.575 g/ml. These compositions may be further characterized by number of particles per gram of the composition of matter such that the composition may have at least about 0.8 billion particles per gram, or even as many as 1.5 billion particles per gram. These physical and chemical properties may enhance (1) the oxidation reaction kinetics for the oxidation of mercury species, (2) frequency of contact events, and (3) capture and sequestration of mercury, to achieve efficient mercury capture by the composition even in high temperature flue gas streams.

A method for reducing the emission of contaminants by a furnace is provided. The method includes forming a bed from a stream of fuel within the furnace; fluidizing the bed with flue gas from the furnace; and heating the fuel within the bed so as to generate char, ash and contaminants. The method further includes capturing the contaminants via the ash.

A multi-functional composition of matter that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream to rapidly and efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas stream. The multi-functional composition of matter may include a fixed carbon sorbent and minerals, halogens in the form of halide salts, as well as other physical and chemical properties to enhance (1) the oxidation reaction kinetics for the oxidation of mercury species and (2) the mass diffusion kinetics of the mercury species.

A multi-functional composition of matter that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream to rapidly and efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas streams, particularly at above average flue stream temperatures of about 340 F. or higher. The multi-functional composition of matter may include a fixed carbon content of at least about 20 wt. %, a mineral content of from about 20 wt. % to about 50 wt. %, a sum of micropore plus mesopore volume of at least about 0.20 cc/g, a micropore volume to mesopore volume ratio of at least about 0.7, and a tapped density of not greater than about 0.575 g/ml. These compositions may be further characterized by number of particles per gram of the composition of matter such that the composition may have at least about 0.8 billion particles per gram, or even as many as 1.5 billion particles per gram. These physical and chemical properties may enhance (1) the oxidation reaction kinetics for the oxidation of mercury species, (2) frequency of contact events, and (3) capture and sequestration of mercury, to achieve efficient mercury capture by the composition even in high temperature flue gas streams.

A contaminated gas stream can be passed through an in-line mixing device, positioned in a duct containing the contaminated gas stream, to form a turbulent contaminated gas stream. One or more of the following is true: (a) a width of the in-line mixing device is no more than about 75% of a width of the duct at the position of the in-line mixing device; (b) a height of the in-line mixing device is no more than about 75% of a height of the duct at the position of the in-line mixing device; and (c) a cross-sectional area of the mixing device normal to a direction of gas flow is no more than about 75% of a cross-sectional area of the duct at the position of the in-line mixing device. An additive can be introduced into the contaminated gas stream to cause the removal of the contaminant by a particulate control device.

A contaminated gas stream can be passed through an in-line mixing device, positioned in a duct containing the contaminated gas stream, to form a turbulent contaminated gas stream. One or more of the following is true: (a) a width of the in-line mixing device is no more than about 75% of a width of the duct at the position of the in-line mixing device; (b) a height of the in-line mixing device is no more than about 75% of a height of the duct at the position of the in-line mixing device; and (c) a cross-sectional area of the mixing device normal to a direction of gas flow is no more than about 75% of a cross-sectional area of the duct at the position of the in-line mixing device. An additive can be introduced into the contaminated gas stream to cause the removal of the contaminant by a particulate control device.

The present invention is generally related to a system and method that efficiently and effectively removes mercury, dioxin, and furan while also reducing granule activated carbon (GAC) bed fires on high temperature municipal fluid bed sludge incinerators. In this manner, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Maximum Achievable Control Technology LLLL (MACT LLLL) emission limits on mercury, dioxin, and furans can be met for new high temperature fluid bed municipal sludge incineration plants, while the likelihood of GAC fires can be reduced.

Disclosed herein are activated carbon having a particle size distribution of d.sub.95 ranging from 1 m to 28 m and a d.sub.95/d.sub.50 ratio ranging from 1.5 to 3, compositions comprising such activated carbons and methods of making the same, and methods of mercury removal from flue gas generated from coal combustion by injecting activated carbon into the flue gas.