Gaseous elemental mercury capture from flue gas using magnetic nanosized (Fe3-xMnx)1-δO4

Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Feb 15;45(4):1540-6. doi: 10.1021/es103391w. Epub 2011 Jan 5.

Abstract

A series of nanosized (Fe3-xMnx)1-δO4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8) were synthesized for elemental mercury capture from the flue gas. Cation vacancies on (Fe3-xMnx)1-δO4 can provide the active sites for elemental mercury adsorption, and Mn(4+) cations on (Fe3-xMnx)1-δO4 may be the oxidizing agents for elemental mercury oxidization. With the increase of Mn content in the spinel structure, the percents of Mn(4+) cations and cation vacancies on the surface increased. As a result, elemental mercury capture by (Fe3-xMnx)1-δO4 was obviously promoted with the increase of Mn content. (Fe2.2Mn0.8)1-δO4 showed an excellent capacity for elemental mercury capture (>1.5 mg g(-1) at 100-300 °C) in the presence of SO2 and HCl. Furthermore, (Fe2.2Mn0.8)1-δO4 with the saturation magnetization of 45.6 emu g(-1) can be separated from the fly ash using magnetic separation, leaving the fly ash essentially free of sorbent and adsorbed Hg. Therefore, nanosized (Fe2.2Mn0.8)1-δO4 may be a promising sorbent for the control of elemental mercury emission.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Air Pollution / prevention & control
  • Coal Ash
  • Gases / chemistry
  • Magnetics
  • Mercury / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Coal Ash
  • Gases
  • Mercury