INNOVATIVE INSTRUMENTATION FOR CHARACTERIZING EMISSIONS OF TOXIC METALS

One of the challenges facing both regulators and the regulated communi ty in dealing with air toxic emissions and their control, is the need to accurately measure and characterize these emissions. The current te chnology for measuring metallic components in emission streams require s manual sample extraction, recovery and preservation of the sample, a nd finally analysis of the sample using laboratory instrumentation. Wh ile these techniques are capable of analyzing trace concentrations of metals with adequate accuracy and precision, they all have numerous dr awbacks due to their complexity and the fact that they do not provide real-time data. This paper describes two programs that ADA Technologie s has undertaken to develop measurement technology for toxic metals in combustion flue gas. These research programs are directed at overcomi ng limitations of the current state-of-the-art measurement systems in order to meet the needs for accurate and reliable monitoring of toxic metal emissions from stationary sources. Both programs focus on the de velopment of instrumentation for the detection and quantization of tra ce levels of air toxic metals in combustion gas environments. The inst ruments are being designed to function as continuous, real-time, on-li ne analyzers that can serve as parts of a feedback process to control air toxic metals emissions.