Further Investigation of the Impact of Sulfur Oxides on Mercury Capture by Activated Carbon

Journal Article · Wed Nov 21 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie071045c· OSTI ID:923819

Presto, A A; Granite, E J; Karash, A

To gain a more complete understanding of the impact of sulfur oxides on mercury capture by activated carbon, continuous mercury concentration measurements were made downstream of a packed sorbent bed. Previous research from this laboratory, which is presented in a companion study, indicated that the mercury capacity of activated carbon during a 6 h exposure to mercury-laden simulated flue gas was inversely proportional to the S6+ content of the carbon. The results presented here indicate that high S6+ content limits both the 6-h capacity of activated carbon and the initial mercury removal efficiency. The observed reduction in initial mercury removal efficiency verifies the assumption that the 6-h mercury capacity is indicative of in-flight mercury capture efficiency during activated carbon injection. The activated carbon sample with the highest sulfur content tested here captured a minimal amount of mercury; however, this sample oxidized ~30% of the incident Hg0 at 100% breakthrough. This finding suggests that there are multiple available sites for mercury interaction with the sorbent surface, and that capture and oxidation occur at different surface sites.

• 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: 923819
• Report Number(s): DOE/NETL-IR-2008-025
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 46; ISSN 0888-5885
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMISORPTION
FLUE GAS
MERCURY
REMOVAL
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SULFUR OXIDES