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Title: Control of mercury emissions in flue gases by activated carbon adsorption

Journal Article · · Preprints of Papers, American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry
OSTI ID:433165
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

The adsorptive capacities of virgin and sulfur impregnated activated carbons (GAC) for gas-phase mercury were evaluated as a function of temperature and influent mercury concentration. The virgin activated carbon showed little adsorptive capacity, especially at temperatures above 90 {degrees}C. The pronounced effect of temperature on the adsorptive capacity evidences a physical adsorption mechanism between the mercury and virgin GAC. Sulfur impregnated activated carbons exhibited enhanced mercury removal efficiency over the non-impregnated varieties due to formation of mercuric sulfide on the carbon surface. This chemisorption process is enhanced with increased temperature between 25 and 90 {degrees}C. However, at 140 {degrees}C a decrease in adsorptive capacity occurs, indicating reduced formation of mercuric sulfide. The method used for impregnating GAC with sulfur had a pronounced effect on mercury removal capacity. The chemical bonding of sulfur and carbon surface at 600 {degrees}C provides a more uniform distribution of sulfur throughout the GAC pore structure than achieved by conventional condensation techniques, yielding improved performance.

OSTI ID:
433165
Report Number(s):
CONF-960376-; ISSN 0569-3772; TRN: 97:000008-0086
Journal Information:
Preprints of Papers, American Chemical Society, Division of Fuel Chemistry, Vol. 41, Issue 1; Conference: Spring national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), New Orleans, LA (United States), 24-28 Mar 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English