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ENTRAINED-FLOW ADSORPTION OF MERCURY USING ACTIVATED CARBON
Citation:
Serre**, S D., B K. Gullett*, AND S. B. Ghorishi. ENTRAINED-FLOW ADSORPTION OF MERCURY USING ACTIVATED CARBON. JOURNAL OF AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION 51(5):733-741, (2001).
Description:
Bench-scale experiments were conducted in a flow reactor to simulate entrained-flow capture of elemental mercury (Hg) by activated carbon. Adsorption of Hg by several commercial activated carbons was examined at different carbon-to-mercury (C:Hg) ratios (by weight) (600:1 - 29000: 1), particle sizes (4-44 micrometers), Hg concentrations (44, 86, 124 ppb), and temperatures (23-250 degrees C). Increasing the C:Hg ratio from 2100:1 to 11000:1 resulted in an increase in removal from 11 to 30% for particle sizes of 4-8 micrometers and a residence time of 6.5 s. Mercury capture increased with a decrease in particle size. At 100 degrees C and a Hg concentration of 86 ppb, a 20% Hg reduction was obtained with 4-8 micrometer particles, compared to only a 7% reduction for 24-44 micrometer particles. Mercury uptake decreased with an increase in temperature over a range of 21 to 150 degrees C. Only a small amount of the Hg uptake capacity is being utilized (less than 0.1%) at such short residence times. Increasing the residence time over a range of 3.8 to 13 s did not increase adsorption for a lignite-based carbon; however, increasing the time from 3.6 to 12 s resulted in higher Hg removal for a bituminous-based carbon.