Removal of Gaseous Elemental Mercury by Cylindrical Activated Coke Loaded with CoOx-CeO2 from Simulated Coal Combustion Flue Gas

Abstract

Co–Ce mixed oxides were loaded on commercial cylindrical activated coke granules (CoCe/AC) by an impregnation method to remove gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) from simulated coal combustion flue gas at low temperature (110–230 °C). Effects of the Co/Ce molar ratio in Co–Ce mixed oxides, mixed oxides loading value, reaction temperature, and flue gas components (O2, NO, SO2, H2O) on Hg0 removal efficiency were investigated, respectively. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis were employed to analyze the characteristics of the samples. Results showed that up to 92.5% of Hg0 removal efficiency could be obtained over Co4.5Ce6/AC at 170 °C. The remarkably high Hg0 removal ability of Co4.5Ce6/AC mainly depended on the synergetic effect between cobalt oxide and ceria. Additionally, different with the pure N2 condition, the existence of O2 and NO...