Mercury content in refuse-derived fuels

Abstract

The paper presents the results of testing the mercury content in fuels derived from different types of waste. Legal and technical issues related to preventing mercury from getting into the environment are taken into account with respect to refuse-derived fuels used in cement plants. The mercury content in refuse-derived fuels is usually smaller compared to conventional fossil fuels such as coal. For this reason, the requirement imposed on the fuel suppliers that it must not exceed the limit of 0.3 ppm (in dry matter (DM)) seems over-restrictive and unjustified. The paper presents the sources of mercury contamination of waste with attention drawn to the significance of selective waste collection and the need to educate the public in this area. Presented are results of the testing of the mercury content in waste types characterized by a great variation of the parameter depending on the origin of the waste combustible fractions and their possible contact with waste containing mercury. Depending on the fuel origin (ballast from selective collection of waste, residue from mixed municipal waste sorting, bulky waste, car industry waste, sewage sludge), the average content of mercury in the fuels under analysis is included in the range of 0.1–1.15 ppm (DM).