Impact of Sulfur Oxides on Mercury Capture by Activated Carbon

Journal Article · Sat Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es0708316· OSTI ID:916965

Presto, A A; Granite, E J

Recent field tests of mercury removal with activated carbon injection (ACI) have revealed that mercury capture is limited in flue gases containing high concentrations of sulfur oxides (SOx). In order to gain a more complete understanding of the impact of SOx on ACI, mercury capture was tested under varying conditions of SO2 and SO3 concentrations using a packed bed reactor and simulated flue gas (SFG). The final mercury content of the activated carbons is independent of the SO2 concentration in the SFG, but the presence of SO3 inhibits mercury capture even at the lowest concentration tested (20 ppm). The mercury removal capacity decreases as the sulfur content of the used activated carbons increases from 1 to 10%. In one extreme case, an activated carbon with 10% sulfur, prepared by H2SO4 impregnation, shows almost no mercury capacity. The results suggest that mercury and sulfur oxides are in competition for the same binding sites on the carbon surface.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE - Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
• OSTI ID: 916965
• Report Number(s): DOE/NETL-IR-2007-226
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 41; ISSN 0013-936X
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English