Abstract
As a dominant share of coal's alkali metal, sodium has a significant effect on the coal's utilization. To elucidate the effect of sodium in coal on the textural and removal ability of activated carbon (AC), in this research, J/H-XNa-ACs (X is the sodium's contents) were obtained by mixing demineralized Jiangjunmiao (J) or Hongshaquan (H) coal with different concentrations of sodium (0–0.5 wt.%) through liquid impregnation method and followed by carbonization and steam activation. As-prepared ACs' textures and performance were characterized and determined. The results show that: (1) Sodium in coal favors the micropore generation and/or micro- and meso- pore transform into meso- and macro- pore and even collapse. The total BET specific surface area and micropore volume reduced from 741 m2/g and 0.26 cm3/g to 686 m2/g and 0.21 cm3/g of J-XNa-ACs, and 686 m2/g and 0.19 cm3/g to 557 m2/g and 0.17 cm3/g of H-XNa-ACs, respectively. Sodium promotes the increase of the oxygen atoms in carboxyl groups and the carbonyl oxygen of quinone groups of as-prepared ACs. (2) Sodium in coal slightly adjust the sulfur capacity and enhance NO removal obviously. The maximum value of NO conversion is reach 27.1% of J-0.5Na-AC and 47.6% of H-0.5Na-AC, which is higher than 44.9% and 29.7% than J-AC (18.7%) and H-AC (36.7%), respectively. The enhanced mechanism was proposed: sodium enhanced surface chemistry properties and optimized porosity of ACs, which promote the NO and NH3 adsorption, meanwhile, the sodium species in AC could promote the catalytic denitrification activity, and eventually strengthen denitrification. (3) Due to the NO and SO2 competitive adsorption, the lower sulfur capacity and NO conversion were achieved during the SO2 and NO simultaneous removal. This investigation would provide a primary and valuable reference for AC production by utilizing high sodium coal, and further facilitate its practical application.
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