New adsorbents for direct warm-gas capture of mercury

FUEL 37

Oliver Peise1, Lei Ji2, Stephen W. Thiel, Stephen.Thiel@uc.edu2, and Neville G. Pinto2. (1) Department of Energy and Chemical Engineering, University of Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany, (2) Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012
A new class of adsorbents for direct capture of mercury from warm gases has been developed. In these adsorbents, a dicarboxylic acid (DCA) is dissolved in a selective ionic liquid (IL) layer; the DCA+IL solution is coated on a mesoporous support. Mercury is absorbed by the IL and reacts with the DCA to form a halatopolymer, immobilizing the captured mercury. A prototype adsorbent was prepared by coating the IL [bmim]Cl and azelaic acid on mesoporous silica. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the adsorbent is thermally stable at the target operating temperature. Fixed-bed adsorption tests of elemental mercury capture from nitrogen at 160°C show that this adsorbent can capture 44 mg Hg/g adsorbent. Leaching tests indicate that the captured mercury is held tightly by the adsorbent. A simple economic analysis suggests that the prototype adsorbent is competitive with modified carbon in IGCC applications.
 

Mercury and Other Trace Elements in Fuel: Emissions and Control
1:25 PM-5:00 PM, Sunday, April 6, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 240/241, Oral

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008