(135a) The Measurement and Monitoring of Mercury in Natural Gas Using a Modified EPA 30B Method

In August of 2005 Williams Gas Pipelines began measuring and monitoring mercury in natural gas handled in their gas collection and transmission facilities. A monitoring method was required that had the capacity and flexibility to accurately measure a wide range of mercury concentrations over short and long time periods. The project team developed and tested a modified version of EPA Method 30B (Determination of Total Vapor Phase Mercury Emmissions from Coal-Fired Combustion Sources Using Carbon Sorbent Traps). This paper will present the results that were produced from the testing and deployment of the method and discuss the pros and cons of the method. The Modified EPA 30B method has the potential to provide ethylene producers with a cost effective means of monitoring mercury in vapor phase feedstock as well as in vapor phase process streams. In process areas with mercury sensitive catalysts, the method can provide a highly reliable and accurate approach to the development of mercury mass balances.