How do power plants remove mercury?

Power plants remove Mercury primarily through a combination of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems, activated carbon injection, and particulate matter control technologies. In FGD systems, mercury is captured along with sulfur dioxide in a wet scrubber that uses a limestone slurry. Activated carbon injection involves adding activated carbon to the flue gas stream, which adsorbs mercury; the carbon is then collected with other particulates. Additionally, electrostatic precipitators and baghouses can further capture any remaining mercury particles before the gases are released into the atmosphere.