The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that the emission of acid gases, particulates, and ten specific metals in the flue gas of incineration be regulated. In addition, the Department of Energy is interested in minimizing the emission of radioactive metals in such flue gas. Dry scrubbing is an attractive alternative to wet scrubbing for the removal of these materials. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to measure the adsorption of cesium by silica at 1000–1300°F. Silica was found to be an effective sorbent for cesium. A methodology was developed for pre-selecting suitable sorbents for specific metals for future testing.
