A review on removal of elemental mercury from flue gas using advanced oxidation process: Chemistry and process

Plasma-catalyzed combined dynamic wave scrubbing: A novel method for highly efficient removal of multiple pollutants from flue gas at low temperatures

In this study, we developed a novel approach combining a non-thermal plasma system with M(Ce, Cu)-Mn/13X oxidation and post-dynamic wave wet scrubbing technologies, for effectively removing multiple pollutants from flue gases. Experimental results demonstrated that the plasma coupled with post-dynamic wave wet scrubbing achieved impressive synergistic removal efficiencies of 98% for SO2, 50.9% for NO, and 51.3% for Hg0 in flue gas. Through the use of M(Ce, Cu)-Mn/13X catalysts synthesized via the co-precipitation, the oxidation efficiency of the system is significantly enhanced, with synergistic removal efficiencies reaching up to 100% for SO2, 98.7% for NO, and 96% for Hg0. Notably, (Ce-Mn)/13X exhibited superior catalytic activity, the results are supported by comprehensive sample characterization, DFT mechanistic analysis, and experimental validation. Additionally, we elucidated the plasma oxidation mechanism and the working principles of the M(Ce, Cu)-Mn/13X loaded catalysts. This innovative technology not only facilitates pollutant oxidation but also ensures their complete removal from flue gas, providing a high-efficiency, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for the treatment of multi-pollutants in flue gases.

Removal of NO in flue gas simulated by the Fe2+/Cu2+-activated double oxidant system

⋅ O H The wet denitrification technology has a good development prospect due to its simple system and mild reaction conditions, and related research has become a hot topic in the field of flue gas purification. In this work, a novel simultaneous removal technology of NO from flue gas using Fe2+/Cu2+-catalytic H2O2/(NH4)2S2O8 system was developed for the first time. The feasibility of this new flue gas cleaning technology was explored through a series of experiments and performance analyses. The mechanism of oxidation products, free radicals and simultaneous removal of NO was revealed. The effects of the main process parameters on the removal of NO were investigated. Relevant results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of NO was elevated when the concentration of (NH4)2S2O8 or reacting temperature increased, while it was decreased after increasing the raising of Fe2+, Cu2+ and H2O2 concentrations. The main radicals were and·S O 4 - , using the electron spin resonance technique in the solution, and played a very important role in NO removal. The main products were carried out by ion chromatography and elemental N material accountancy, and the results showed that it was sulfate and nitrate in the solution, which provided theoretical guidance for the subsequent treatment and resource utilization of the absorption solution. The results of the study provided a theoretical basis for the industrial application of wet denitrification.Highlights A new green process of NO removal by a wet process with Fe2+/Cu2+ activated (NH4)2S2O8 system is proposed in this paper;Elimination mechanisms and paths of NO are elucidated;The synergistic role produced by Cu2+ and Fe2+ is beneficial to the purification of NO;The synergistic role produced by (NH4)2S2O8 and H2O2 increased the concentration of free radicals in the solution;This process jointly considers the enhanced removal of NO and recycling of transition metal ions.

Highly effective remediation of high arsenic-bearing wastewater using aluminum-containing waste residue

Wastewater from non-ferrous metal smelting is known as one of the most dangerous sources of arsenic (As) due to its high acidity and high arsenic content. Herein, we propose a new environmental protection process for the efficient purification and removal of arsenic from wastewater by the formation of an AlAsO₄@silicate core-shell structure based on the characteristics of aluminum-containing waste residue (AWR). At room temperature, the investigation with AWR almost achieved 100% As removal efficiency from wastewater, reducing the arsenic concentration from 5500 mg/L to 52 μg/L. With Al/As molar ratio of 3.5, the structural properties of AWR provided good adsorption sites for arsenic adsorption, leading to the formation of arsenate and insoluble aluminum arsenate with As. As-containing AWR silicate shells were produced under alkaline conditions, resulting in an arsenic leaching concentration of 1.32 mg/L in the TCLP test. AWR, as an efficient As removal and fixation agent, shows great potential in the treatment of copper smelting wastewater, and is expected to achieve large-scale industrial As removal.

Elemental mercury (Hg0) removal from coal syngas using magnetic tea-biochar: Experimental and theoretical insights

Mercury is ranked 3^rd as a global pollutant because of its long persistence in the environment. Approximately 65% of its anthropogenic emission (Hg⁰) to the atmosphere is from coal-thermal power plants. Thus, the Hg⁰ emission control from coal-thermal power plants is inevitable. Therefore, multiple sorbent materials were synthesized using a one-step pyrolysis method to capture the Hg⁰ from simulated coal syngas. Results showed, the Hg⁰ removal performance of the sorbents increased by the citric acid/ultrasonic application. T5CUF_0.3 demonstrated the highest Hg⁰ capturing performance with an adsorption capacity of 106.81 µg/g within 60 min at 200 °C under complex simulated syngas mixture (20% CO, 20% H₂, 10 ppmV HCl, 6% H₂O, and 400 ppmV H₂S). The Hg⁰ removal mechanism was proposed, revealing that the chemisorption governs the Hg⁰ removal process. Besides, the active Hg⁰ removal performance is attributed to the high dispersion of valence Fe₃O₄ and lattice oxygen (α) contents over the T5CUF_0.3 surface. In addition, the temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and XPS analysis confirmed that H₂S/HCl gases generate active sites over the sorbent surface, facilitating high Hg⁰ adsorption from syngas. This work represented a facile and practical pathway for utilizing cheap and eco-friendly tea waste to control the Hg⁰ emission.

Recent Trends and Future Perspectives of Emergent Analytical Techniques for Mercury Sensing in Aquatic Environments

Environmental emissions of mercury from industrial waste and natural sources, even in trace amounts, are toxic to organisms and ecosystems. However, industrial-scale mercury detection is limited by the high cost, low sensitivity/specificity, and poor selectivity of the available analytical tools. This review summarizes the key sensors for mercury detection in aqueous environments: colorimetric-, electrochemical-, fluorescence-, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy-based sensors reported between 2014-2021. It then compares the performances of these sensors in the determination of inorganic mercury (Hg²⁺ ) and methyl mercury (CH₃ Hg⁺ ) species in aqueous samples. Mercury sensors for aquatic applications still face serious challenges in terms of difficult deployment in remote areas and low robustness, reliability, and selectivity in harsh environments. We provide future perspectives on the selective detection of organomercury species, which are especially toxic and reactive in aquatic environments. This review is intended as a valuable resource for scientists in the field of mercury sensing.

Abatement of NO/SO2/Hg0 from flue gas by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs): Tech-category, status quo and prospects

This review article provides a state-of-art insight into the removal of NO, SO₂ and elemental mercury (Hg⁰) from flue gas by using advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) method. Firstly, the main flue gas purification strategies based on AOPs would be classified as gas-gas, gas-liquid and gas-solid systems preliminarily, and the primary chemistry/mechanism of the above homogeneous/heterogeneous reaction systems were presented as the oxidation of NO, SO₂ and Hg⁰ by the oxidative free radicals (OH, O₂ and SO₄^-etc.). Secondly, the research progress and reaction pathways for separately or simultaneously removing NO, SO₂ and Hg⁰ from flue gas by AOPs has been reviewed elaborated and analyzed in more details. Notably, the wet/dry oxidation coupled with efficient absorption process would be a promising method of efficient removal of above gaseous pollutants. Subsequently, four types of assumed layout modes were described graphically. The application prospects of AOPs for the purification of flue gas from coal-fired boiler or industrial furnace were evaluated and found that the operation cost and utilization of oxidants must be reduced and improved respectively. Finally, the limitations in the current removal technologies based on AOPs are highlighted, meanwhile the future research directions are suggested, such as cut down the cost of oxidants and catalysts, improve the yield and valid utilization of highly reactive radicals and enhance the reactivity, resistance and stability of catalysts. Significantly, it is also envisaged that the review could enrich the knowledge repository to function as a scientific reference for the sustainable development of economical, effective and environment-friendly technologies for the abatement of a wide variety of emissions from flue gas, and further improve the feasibility and reliability of the strategies for moving from laboratory studies to large-scale development and industrial application.

Gamma-spectrometric measurement procedure for a clearance concept of radioactively contaminated mercury from nuclear facilities

Radioactive mercury waste constitutes a significant challenge, as no approved disposal concept yet exists for such waste in Germany. This work describes a decontamination and measurement procedure for a possible clearance of mercury from nuclear facilities and release into reuse or conventional hazardous waste disposal to reduce the amount of mercury in a nuclear repository. The measurement setup and procedure were developed and evaluated including Monte-Carlo N-Particle® Transport Code (MCNP® and Monte Carlo N-Particle® are registered trademarks owned by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, manager and operator of Los Alamos National Laboratory, (Werner 2018, Werner 2017)), simulations to ensure conservative assumptions during the measurements. Results from decontaminated mercury samples show that a clearance pursuant to the German regulations would be feasible.

A Critical Review on Removal of Gaseous Pollutants Using Sulfate Radical-based Advanced Oxidation Technologies

Excessive emissions of gaseous pollutants such as SO₂, NO_x, heavy metals (Hg, As, etc.), H₂S, VOCs, etc. have triggered a series of environmental pollution incidents. Sulfate radical (SO₄•^-)-based advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) are one of the most promising gaseous pollutants removal technologies because they can not only produce active free radicals with strong oxidation ability to simultaneously degrade most of gaseous pollutants, but also their reaction processes are environmentally friendly. However, so far, the special review focusing on gaseous pollutants removal using SO₄•^--based AOTs is not reported. This review reports the latest advances in removal of gaseous pollutants (e.g., SO₂, NO_x, Hg, As, H₂S, and VOCs) using SO₄•^--based AOTs. The performance, mechanism, active species identification and advantages/disadvantages of these removal technologies using SO₄•^--based AOTs are reviewed. The existing challenges and further research suggestions are also commented. Results show that SO₄•^--based AOTs possess good development potential in gaseous pollutant control field due to simple reagent transportation and storage, low product post-treatment requirements and strong degradation ability of refractory pollutants. Each SO₄•^--based AOT possesses its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of removal performance, cost, reliability, and product post-treatment. Low free radical yield, poor removal capacity, unclear removal mechanism/contribution of active species, unreliable technology and high cost are still the main problems in this field. The combined use of multiactivation technologies is one of the promising strategies to overcome these defects since it may make up for the shortcomings of independent technology. In order to improve free radical yield and pollutant removal capacity, enhancement of mass transfer and optimization design of reactor are critical issues. Comprehensive consideration of catalytic materials, removal chemistry, mass transfer and reactor is the promising route to solve these problems. In order to clarify removal mechanism, it is essential to select suitable free radical sacrificial agents, probes and spin trapping agents, which possess high selectivity for target specie, high solubility in water, and little effect on activity of catalyst itself and mass transfer/diffusion parameters. In order to further reduce investment and operating costs, it is necessary to carry out the related studies on simultaneous removal of more gaseous pollutants.

Enhanced oxidative removal of NO by UV/in situ Fenton: Factors, kinetics and simulation

A series of experiments on the oxidative removal of NO from flue gas using a novel in situ Fenton (IF) system was performed in the presence of ultraviolet light (UV). The comparison tests revealed that the in situ Fenton system facilitated by UV (UV/IF) has a better oxidation ability of NO than that of the IF system due to the photochemical effect on the generation of oxidative species like (OH). Both of the aforementioned oxidation efficiencies were higher than that of the conventional Fenton system (CF) depending on the premix of Fe²⁺ and H₂O₂ solutions, which attribute to the improvement of (OH) yield and valid utilization with continuous addition of fresh reagents and UV radiation. In follow-up experiments, the effects of UV power, gas flow rate, reagent temperature, Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ molar ratio, initial pH, initial concentration of NO and SO₂ and volume fraction O₂ and CO₂ on the oxidative removal of NO by UV/IF method were investigated respectively. Moreover, the results of kinetic analysis indicated that NO oxidation was confirmed to have a pseudo-first-order kinetics pattern. The rate constants decreased slightly with increasing liquid temperature, and then the apparent activation energy of NO oxidation reactions in the UV/IF system was calculated as -5.62 kJ/mol by the Arrhenius equation. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism and application prospects concerning NO oxidative removal by using the UV/IF system was speculated in brief. Finally, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations revealed that the improvement of axial and radial gas hold-up would enhance the gas-liquid contact and accelerate the oxidation reactions on the interface. In addition to reasonable control of process parameters, the optimization of reactor interior structure needs to be carried out via CFD simulation and experimental validation in future research, both are favourable to promote the NO oxidation efficiency and large-scale development of this technology.

Biological treatments of mercury and nitrogen oxides in flue gas: biochemical foundations, technological potentials, and recent advances

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and mercury (Hg) are commonly found coexistent pollutants in combustion flue gas. Ever-increasing emission of atmospheric Hg and NO_x has caused considerable environmental risks. Traditional flue gas demercuration and denitration techniques have many socioeconomic, technological and environmental drawbacks. Biotechnologies can be a promising and prospective alternative strategy. This article discusses theoretical foundation (biochemistry and genomic basis) and technical potentials (Hg⁰ bio-oxidation coupled to denitrification) of bioremoval of Hg and NO_x in flue gas and summarized recent experimental and technological advances. Finally, several specific technical perspectives have been put forward to better guide future researches.

NOx attenuation in flue gas by •OH/SO4•--based advanced oxidation processes

The combustion of fossil fuels has resulted in rapidly increasing emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO_x), which has caused serious human health and environmental problems. NO capture has become a research focus in gas purification because NO accounts for more than 90% of NO_x and is difficult to remove. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), features the little secondary pollution and the broad-spectrum strong oxidation of hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), are effective and promising strategies for NO removal from coal-fired flue gas. This review provides the state of the art of NO removal by AOPs, highlighting several methods for producing ^•OH and SO₄^•-. According to the main radicals responsible for NO removal, these processes are classified into two categories: hydroxyl radical-based AOPs (HR-AOPs) and sulfate radical-based AOPs (SR-AOPs). This paper also reviews the mechanisms of NO capture by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and SO₄^•- in various AOPs. A HiGee (high-gravity) enhanced AOP process for improving NO removal, characterized by intensified gas-liquid mass transfer and efficient micro-mixing, is then proposed and discussed in brief. We believe that this review will be useful for workers in this field. Graphical abstract.

Simultaneous Removal of SO2 and Hg0 by Composite Oxidant NaClO/NaClO2 in a Packed Tower

Based on the implementation of the global Minamata Convention, developing an efficient and economical technology for mercury reduction in coal-fired flue gas becomes a hotspot in the field of air pollution control. The composite oxidant NaClO/NaClO₂ combined with limestone was used in the simultaneous removal of SO₂ and Hg⁰ in this study, and the three-factor and four-level orthogonal experiments were performed in a packed tower. The influential sequence of various factors on SO₂ and Hg⁰ removals was investigated through range analysis of the orthogonal experiments. Results showed that factors affecting desulfurization was C > A > B (liquid-gas ratio > oxidant concentration ratio > initial pH of absorption liquid), while factors affecting Hg⁰ removal was A > C > B (oxidant concentration ratio > liquid-gas ratio > initial pH of absorption liquid). Optimum conditions of simultaneous desulfurization and demercuration by NaClO/NaClO₂ were A4B1C4; that is, the oxidant concentration ratio was 10/4 (mmol/L:mmol/L), the initial pH was 5, and the liquid-gas ratio was 18 (L/m³). The simultaneous removal efficiencies of SO₂ and Hg⁰ reached 99.5 and 85.4% under these optimum conditions, respectively. Analysis of the characteristics of the solid products showed that the main products of the wet oxidation were CaSO₄ and CaSO₃. Analysis of the existing form of oxidized mercury showed that 23% of mercury was in the gypsum, while 77% was in the supernatant. Results of this research would provide a practical reference for promoting the simultaneous removal of SO₂ and Hg⁰ by NaClO/NaClO₂ with limestone in industrial application.

Mechanism study of enhanced interaction between gaseous elemental mercury and hydroxylated UIO-66

Novel hydroxylated UIO-66 for gaseous elemental mercury (Hg⁰) removal has been considered to be an emerging method because of its economical and reusable property. Density functional theory studies were investigated to reveal the enhanced heterogeneous interaction mechanisms between mercury and hydroxylated UIO-66 with and without the presence of H₂O₂ vapor. The adsorption and dissociation of H₂O₂ and the generation mechanism of surface hydroxyls on UIO-66 were investigated. Results indicated that H₂O₂ preferred to disconnect the O-O bond followed by the generation of two hydroxyls in the presence of H₂O₂. The hydroxyl adsorbed on UIO-66 and formed the UIO-66 hydroxylation product. The interaction performances between Hg⁰, H₂O₂, and UIO-66 as well as the interaction performances between Hg⁰ and hydroxylated UIO-66 systems were both evaluated through binding energy and the Mulliken charge analysis. Interacted energies indicated thermodynamically favorable processes of Hg-OH formation on hydroxylated UIO-66. The Mulliken charge changes revealed an oxidative process of mercury.

Novel Simultaneous Removal Technology of NO and SO2 Using a Semi-Dry Microwave Activation Persulfate System

As it has a simple system and a small floor area, flue gas simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification technology has a good development prospect, and related research has become a hot topic in the field of flue gas purification. In this work, a novel simultaneous removal technology of NO and SO₂ from flue gas using a semi-dry microwave activation persulfate system was developed for the first time. A series of experiments and characterization analyses had been implemented to research the feasibility of this new flue gas purification technology. The oxidation products, free radicals, and mechanism of NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal were revealed. The effect of the main technological parameters on NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal was also studied. Relevant results demonstrated that an increase in the microwave radiation power, persulfate concentration, and O₂ concentration enhanced NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. The increase of NO and SO₂ concentrations weakened NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. The reagent dosage, pH value of the solution, and reaction temperature showed a dual influence on NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. Free-radical capture experiments revealed that both SO₄^-• and ^•OH that were produced by microwave activation of persulfate were the major active species and played very key roles in NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal. The main products (sulfate and nitrate) and byproducts (NO₂) in the tail gas were found. The process application and product post-treatment routes were also proposed. The result may provide the necessary inspiration and guidance for the development and application of microwave-activated advanced oxidation technology in the flue gas treatment area.

An experimental study on the simultaneous removal of NO and SO2 with a new wet recycling process based on the micro-nano bubble water system

The micronano bubble water system (MNBW) generated by a micronano bubble generator (MNBG) has the superior oxidation properties and can improve gas solubility. In the study, a new wet recycling process based on MNBW is proposed to simultaneously remove nitric oxide (NO) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The important experimental parameters such as initial water pH, initial water temperature, NO and SO₂ concentrations, and the presence of oxygen (O₂) were investigated to explore the feasibility of desulfurization and denitration with MNBW. The experimental results showed that decreasing initial water pH or increasing initial water temperature and NO and SO₂ concentrations were not conducive to the removal of NO or SO₂. O₂ could promote the removal of NO, but it had no effect on SO₂ removal. In addition, SO₂ removal efficiency always remained high and did not change obviously during the experimental period. However, NO removal efficiency gradually decreased in the first 50 min and then became stable.

Simultaneous NO and SO2 removal by aqueous persulfate activated by combined heat and Fe2+: experimental and kinetic mass transfer model studies

This study evaluates the chemistry, kinetics, and mass transfer aspects of the removal of NO and SO₂ simultaneously from flue gas induced by the combined heat and Fe²⁺ activation of aqueous persulfate. The work involves experimental studies and the development of a mathematical model utilizing a comprehensive reaction scheme for detailed process evaluation, and to validate the results of an experimental study at 30-70 °C, which demonstrated that both SO₂ and Fe²⁺ improved NO removal, while the SO₂ is almost completely removed. The model was used to correlate experimental data, predict reaction species and nitrogen-sulfur (N-S) product concentrations, to obtain new kinetic data, and to estimate mass transfer coefficient (K_La) for NO and SO₂ at different temperatures. The model percent conversion results appear to fit the data remarkably well for both NO and SO₂ in the temperature range of 30-70 °C. The conversions ranged from 43.2 to 76.5% and 98.9 to 98.1% for NO and SO₂, respectively, in the 30-70 °C range. The model predictions at the higher temperature of 90 °C were 90.0 and 97.4% for NO and SO₂, respectively. The model also predicted decrease in K_La for SO₂ of 1.097 × 10^-4 to 8.88 × 10^-5 s^-1 (30-90 °C) and decrease in K_La for NO of 4.79 × 10^-2 to 3.67 × 10^-2 s^-1 (30-50 °C) but increase of 4.36 × 10^-2 to 4.90 × 10^-2 s^-1 at higher temperatures (70-90 °C). This emerging sulfate-radical-based process could be applied to the treatment of flue gases from combustion sources. Graphical abstract.

Remediation of mercury contaminated soil, water, and air: A review of emerging materials and innovative technologies

Mercury contamination in soil, water and air is associated with potential toxicity to humans and ecosystems. Industrial activities such as coal combustion have led to increased mercury (Hg) concentrations in different environmental media. This review critically evaluates recent developments in technological approaches for the remediation of Hg contaminated soil, water and air, with a focus on emerging materials and innovative technologies. Extensive research on various nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanosheets and magnetic nanocomposites, for mercury removal are investigated. This paper also examines other emerging materials and their characteristics, including graphene, biochar, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as well as other materials such as clay minerals and manganese oxides. Based on approaches including adsorption/desorption, oxidation/reduction and stabilization/containment, the performances of innovative technologies with the aid of these materials were examined. In addition, technologies involving organisms, such as phytoremediation, algae-based mercury removal, microbial reduction and constructed wetlands, were also reviewed, and the role of organisms, especially microorganisms, in these techniques are illustrated.

Direct catalytic oxidation and removal of NO in flue gas by the micro bubbles gas–liquid dispersion system

Abstract

The method of micro bubbles is widely applied in the fields of water and soil treatment. A novel treatment method of NO in flue gas through a gas–liquid two-phase system formed by micro bubbles is proposed in this study. The system depends on the generation of hydroxyl radicals. The NO removal performance of the micro gas–liquid dispersion system induced by catalysts and O3 was explored and the reaction pathways were elucidated. Micro bubbles, Fe2+, and Mn2+ in solution improved NO removal performance significantly. Salinity and surfactants affected the removal performance of NO by altering micro bubbles. In the presence of Fe2+, the NO removal rate reached 65.2% at pH 5, 75.8% under 0.5 g/L NaCl and 82.1% under 6 mg/L sodium dodecyl sulfate. In the presence of Mn2+, the NO removal rate reached 69.2% at pH 5, 83.2% under 0.5 g/L NaCl and 92.3% under 6 mg/L sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, in the presence of both Mn2+ and Fe2+, NO conversion rate was 93.2%. The NO removal rate in the presence of O3 was further improved under the same conditions. The study provides the basis for the application and development of micro bubbles in flue gas treatments for NO removal. The results can help to solve the problems of high operating cost, large oxidant consumption, secondary pollution, and high energy consumption in traditional NO removal methods.

Graphic abstract

Gas-phase elemental mercury removal using ammonium chloride impregnated sargassum chars

In this article, pyrolyzed bio-chars derived from a kind of macroalgae, sargassum, were modified by ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) impregnation, and were applied to remove Hg0 from flue gas. The characteristics of sorbents were investigated by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and ultimate and proximate analysis. The key parameters (e.g. loading value, reaction temperature and concentration of O2, NO, SO2 and water vapor), kinetics analysis and reaction mechanism of Hg0 removal were investigated. The results show that increasing loading value, reaction temperature, O2 concentration and NO concentration enhance Hg0 removal. The increase in SO2 concentration or water vapor concentration has a dual effect on Hg0 removal. The C-Cl groups and C=O groups play an important role in the process of Hg0 removal. The Hg0 removal process of modified samples meets the pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Peroxymonosulfate catalyzed by rGO assisted CoFe2O4 catalyst for removing Hg0 from flue gas in heterogeneous system

The cobalt ferrite-reduced oxidized graphene (CoFe₂O₄/rGO) catalyst was synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauere Emmette Teller (BET) and Hysteresis loop. For developing a new method of removing elemental mercury (Hg⁰) from flue gas, the effects of catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, solution pH and reaction temperature on the removal efficiency were investigated experimentally by using peroxymonosulfate (PMS) catalyzed by CoFe₂O₄/rGO at a self-made bubbling reactor. The average removal efficiency of Hg⁰ in a 30-min period reached 95.56%, when CoFe₂O₄/rGO dosage was 0.288 g/L, PMS concentration was 3.5 mmol/L, solution pH was 5.5 and reaction temperature was 55 °C. Meanwhile, based on the free radical quenching experiments, in which, ethyl alcohol and tert butyl alcohol were used as quenchers to prove indirectly the presence of ^•OH and SO₄^•-, the characterizations of catalysts and reaction products, and the existing results from other scholars. The reaction mechanism was proposed.

Removal of multi-pollutant from flue gas utilizing ammonium persulfate solution catalyzed by Fe/ZSM-5

A nano-sized iron loaded ZSM-5 zeolite (Fe/ZSM-5) catalyst was firstly used to activate (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ solution for the simultaneous removal of multi-pollutant from flue gas. The simultaneous removal efficiencies 100% of SO₂, 72.6% of NO and 93.4% of Hg° were achieved under the condition that the catalyst dose was 0.8 g/L, concentration, pH and temperature of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ solution were 0.03 mol/L, 5 and 65 °C, respectively. The stability of catalyst was checked by a continuous test, proving that the catalytic activity was maintained for 4 h and the leached iron reached low levels. Based on the catalyst characterizations, product analysis and literatures, the removal mechanism was speculated preliminarily, during which, OH and SO₄^- played key roles for oxidizing NO and Hg° into NO₃^- and Hg²⁺.

Dual Roles of Nano-Sulfide in Efficient Removal of Elemental Mercury from Coal Combustion Flue Gas within a Wide Temperature Range

Nanostructured zinc sulfide (Nano-ZnS) has been demonstrated to be an efficient adsorbent for removal of elemental mercury (Hg⁰). However, the Hg⁰ removal performance deteriorates once the flue gas temperature deviates from the optimal temperature of 180 °C. In this study, ultraviolet (UV) light, which is generally generated through corona discharge in electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), was adopted to enhance Hg⁰ removal by Nano-ZnS. With the UV irradiation, Nano-ZnS exhibited excellent performance in Hg⁰ removal within a much wide temperature range from room temperature to 240 °C. A Hg⁰ removal efficiency of 99% was achieved at 60 °C even under extremely adverse conditions, that is, gas flow with an extremely high gas hourly space velocity but without hydrogen chloride. At low temperatures, Hg⁰ was mainly oxidized by superoxide radicals (•O₂^-) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generated by UV photostimulation to form mercuric oxide (HgO). At high temperatures, most Hg⁰ was immobilized as mercuric sulfide (HgS), as both the enhanced chemisorption and the accelerated transformation of HgO to HgS facilitated the formation of HgS. Compared with commercial activated carbon, injection of Nano-ZnS can utilize the UV in ESPs to warrant a higher Hg⁰ removal efficiency within a much wider temperature range.

Application of response surface methodology in physicochemical removal of dyes from wastewater: A critical review

Response surface methodology (RSM) is a powerful tool in designing the experiments and optimizing different environmental processes. However, when it comes to wastewater treatment and specifically dye-containing wastewater, two questions arise; "Is RSM being used correctly?" and "Are all capabilities of RSM being exploited properly?". The current review paper aims to answer these questions by scrutinizing different physicochemical processes that utilized RSM in dye removal. The literature that applied RSM to adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, coagulation/flocculation and electrocoagulation processes were critically reviewed in this paper. The common errors in applying RSM to physicochemical removal of dyes are identified and some suggestions are made for future studies.

Simultaneous purifying of Hg0, SO2, and NOx from flue gas by Fe3+/H2O2: the performance and purifying mechanism

Hg⁰, SO₂, and NOx result in heavily global environmental pollution and serious health hazards. Up to now, how to efficiently remove mercury with SO₂ and NOx from flue gas is still a tough task. In this study, series of high oxidizing Fenton systems were employed to purify the pollutants. The experimental results showed that Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ was more suitable to purify Hg⁰ than Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ and Cu²⁺/H₂O_2. The optimal condition includes Fe³⁺ concentration of 0.008 mol/L, Hg⁰ inlet concentration of 40 μg/m³, solution temperature of 50 °C, pH of 3, H₂O₂ concentration of 0.7 mol/L, and O₂ percentage of 6%. When SO₂ and NOx were taken into account under the optimal condition, Hg⁰ removal efficiency could be enhanced to 91.11% while the removal efficiency of both NOx and SO₂ was slightly declined, which was consistent to the analysis of purifying mechanism. The removal efficiency of Hg⁰ was stimulated by accelerating the conversion of Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺, which resulted from the existence of SO₂ and NOx. The results of this study suggested that simultaneously purifying Hg⁰, SO₂, and NOx from flue gas is feasible.

Simultaneous removal of NO and SO2 from flue gas by combined heat and Fe2+ activated aqueous persulfate solutions

The use of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to integrate flue gas treatments for SO₂, NO_x and Hg⁰ into a single process unit is rapidly gaining research attention. AOPs are processes that rely on the generation of mainly the hydroxyl radical. This work evaluates the effectiveness of the simultaneous removal of NO and SO₂ from flue gas utilizing AOP induced by the combined heat and Fe²⁺ activation of aqueous persulfate, and elucidates the reaction pathways. The results indicated that both SO₂ in the flue gas and Fe²⁺ in solution improved NO removal, while the SO₂ is almost completely removed. Increased temperature led to increase in NO removal in the absence and presence of both Fe²⁺ and SO₂, and in the absence of either SO₂ or Fe²⁺, but the enhanced NO removal due to the presence of SO₂ alone dominated at all temperatures. The removal of NO increased from 77.5% at 30 °C to 80.5% and 82.3% at 50 °C and 70 °C in the presence of SO₂ alone, and from 35.3% to 62.7% and 81.2%, respectively, in the presence of Fe²⁺ alone. However, in the presence of both SO₂ and Fe²⁺, NO conversion is 46.2% at 30 °C, increased only slightly to 48.2% at 50 °C; but sharply increased to 78.7% at 70 °C compared to 63.9% for persulfate-only activation. Results suggest NO removal in the presence of SO₂ is equally effective by heat-only or heat-Fe²⁺ activation as the temperature increases. The results should be useful for future developments of advanced oxidation processes for flue gas treatments.

Simultaneous absorption of SO2 and NO from flue gas using ultrasound/Fe2+/heat coactivated persulfate system

A novel process on simultaneous absorption of SO₂ and NO from flue gas using ultrasound (US)/Fe²⁺/heat coactivated persulfate system was proposed. The influencing factors, active species, products and mechanism of SO₂ and NO removal were investigated. The results indicate that US enhances NO removal due to enhancement of mass transfer and chemical reaction. US of 28kHz is more effective than that of 40kHz. NO removal efficiency increases with increasing persulfate concentration, ultrasonic power density and Fe²⁺ concentration (at high persulfate concentration). Solution pH, solution temperature and Fe²⁺ concentration (at low persulfate concentration) have double effect on NO removal. SO₂ is completely removed in most of tested removal systems, except for using water absorption. US, Fe²⁺ and heat have a synergistic effect for activating persulfate to produce free radicals, and US/Fe²⁺/heat coactivated persulfate system achieves the highest NO removal efficiency. ·OH and SO₄^-· play a leading role for NO oxidation, and persulfate only plays a complementary role for NO oxidation.

Elemental mercury removal from flue gas by CoFe2O4 catalyzed peroxymonosulfate

A magnetic cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) catalyst was prepared by sol-gel method, and characterized by a X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and hysteresis loop method. The chemical states on surface of the fresh and spent catalysts were analyzed by a X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The experiments of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) removal from flue gas were conducted in a laboratory scale using activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) catalyzed by CoFe₂O₄, and the effects of the dosage of catalyst, the concentration of PMS, initial solution pH and reaction temperature on mercury removal efficiency were investigated. The average removal efficiency of Hg⁰ could maintain steady at 85% in 45min when the concentrations of CoFe₂O₄ and PMS were 0.288g/L and 3.5mmol/l respectively, solution pH was 7 and reaction temperature was 55°C. In order to speculate the reaction mechanism, ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol were used as the quenching agents to indirectly prove the existence of SO₄^- and OH.

Simultaneous removal of NO and SO2 using vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV)/heat/peroxymonosulfate (PMS)

Simultaneous removal process of SO₂ and NO from flue gas using vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV)/heat/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in a VUV spraying reactor was proposed. The key influencing factors, active species, reaction products and mechanism of SO₂ and NO simultaneous removal were investigated. The results show that vacuum ultraviolet light (185 nm) achieves the highest NO removal efficiency and yield of and under the same test conditions. NO removal is enhanced at higher PMS concentration, light intensity and oxygen concentration, and is inhibited at higher NO concentration, SO₂ concentration and solution pH. Solution temperature has a double impact on NO removal. CO₂ concentration has no obvious effect on NO removal. and produced from VUV-activation of PMS play a leading role in NO removal. O₃ and ·O produced from VUV-activation of O₂ also play an important role in NO removal. SO₂ achieves complete removal under all experimental conditions due to its very high solubility in water and good reactivity. The highest simultaneous removal efficiency of SO₂ and NO reaches 100% and 91.3%, respectively.

Elemental Mercury Removal from Flue Gas by Diperiodatoargentate(III) Solution

A series of experiments were conducted in a bubble column reactor to investigate the effects of key influencing factors such as the diperiodatoargentate (III) concentration, the reaction temperature, the solution pH, O2 concentration, SO2 concentration and NO concentration on the Hg0 removal. The results indicated that the average removal efficiency of 77.5 % was reached under the optimal conditions in which the DPA concentration was 1.03mmol/L, the reaction temperature was 40 °C and the solution pH was 8.5; SO2 inhibited Hg0 oxidation due to its competition for the limited oxidant; when NO was in a low concentration, it was found to be a promotion for Hg0 oxidation. The spent solution was analyzed by the CVAFS, The results illustrated that Hg0 was oxidized into Hg2+ by DPA then DPA was converted into Ag+, from which, the reaction mechanism was speculated accordingly.

Removal of elemental Mercury from flue gas using wheat straw chars modified by K2FeO4 reagent

In this article, wheat straw (WS) char, a common agricultural waste and renewable biomass, was pyrolyzed and then modified by K₂FeO₄ reagent to develop an efficient sorbent for removal of Hg⁰ from flue gas. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, scanning electron microscopy with energy spectrum and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize the sorbents. The effects of K₂FeO₄ loading, reaction temperature, Hg⁰ inlet concentration and concentrations of gas mixtures O₂, NO and SO₂ in flue gas on Hg⁰ removal were investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. The results show that K₂FeO₄-impregnation can improve pore structure of WS char and produce new active sites, which significantly enhance Hg⁰ removal. Increasing Hg⁰ inlet concentration significantly decreases Hg⁰ removal efficiency. O₂ in flue gas promotes Hg⁰ oxidation by replenishing the oxygen groups on the surface of modified chars. The presence of NO obviously promotes Hg⁰ removal since it can oxidize Hg⁰ to Hg(NO₃)₂. SO₂ in flue gas significantly decreases Hg⁰ removal efficiency due to the competition adsorption between SO₂ and Hg⁰. The increase in reaction temperature has a dual impact on Hg⁰ removal.

Oxidation Removal of Nitric Oxide from Flue Gas Using UV Photolysis of Aqueous Hypochlorite

The oxidation removal of nitric oxide (NO) from flue gas using UV photolysis of aqueous hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)₂ and NaClO) in a photochemical spraying reactor was studied. The key parameters (e.g., light intensity, hypochlorite concentration, solution temperature, solution pH, and concentration of NO, SO₂, O₂, and CO₂), mechanism and kinetics of NO oxidation removal were investigated. The results demonstrate that UV and hypochlorite have a significant synergistic role for promoting the production of hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and enhancing NO removal. NO removal was enhanced with the increase of light intensity, hypochlorite concentration, or O₂ concentration but was inhibited with the increase of NO or CO₂ concentration. Solution temperature, solution pH, and SO₂ concentration have double the effect on NO removal. NO is oxidized by ·OH and hypochlorite, and ·OH plays a key role in NO oxidation removal. The rate equation and kinetic parameters of NO oxidation removal were also obtained, which can provide an important theoretical basis for studying the numerical simulation of NO absorption process and the amplification design of the reactor.

Transport and transformation of mercury during wet flue gas cleaning process of nonferrous metal smelting

Reducing mercury emission is hot topic for international society. The first step for controlling mercury in fuel gas is to investigate mercury distribution and during the flue gas treatment process. The mercury transport and transformation in wet flue gas cleaning process of nonferrous smelting industry was studied in the paper with critical important parameters, such as the solution temperature, Hg⁰ concentration, SO₂ concentration, and Hg²⁺ concentration at the laboratory scale. The mass ratio of the mercury distribution in the solution, flue gas, sludge, and acid fog from the simulated flue gas containing Hg²⁺ and Hg⁰ was 49.12~65.54, 18.34~35.42, 11.89~14.47, and 1.74~3.54%, respectively. The primary mercury species in the flue gas and acid fog were gaseous Hg⁰ and dissolved Hg²⁺. The mercury species in the cleaning solution were dissolved Hg²⁺ and colloidal mercury, which accounted for 56.56 and 7.34% of the total mercury, respectively. Various mercury compounds, including Hg₂Cl₂, HgS, HgCl₂, HgSO₄, and HgO, existed in the sludge. These results for mercury distribution and speciation are highly useful in understanding mercury transport and transformation during the wet flue gas cleaning process. This research is conducive for controlling mercury emissions from nonferrous smelting flue gas and by-products.

Novel Process of Simultaneous Removal of Nitric Oxide and Sulfur Dioxide Using a Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV)-Activated O2/H2O/H2O2 System in A Wet VUV-Spraying Reactor

A novel process for NO and SO₂ simultaneous removal using a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, with 185 nm wavelength)-activated O₂/H₂O/H₂O₂ system in a wet VUV-spraying reactor was developed. The influence of different process variables on NO and SO₂ removal was evaluated. Active species (O₃ and ·OH) and liquid products (SO₃^2-, NO₂^-, SO₄^2-, and NO₃^-) were analyzed. The chemistry and routes of NO and SO₂ removal were investigated. The oxidation removal system exhibits excellent simultaneous removal capacity for NO and SO₂, and a maximum removal of 96.8% for NO and complete SO₂ removal were obtained under optimized conditions. SO₂ reaches 100% removal efficiency under most of test conditions. NO removal is obviously affected by several process variables. Increasing VUV power, H₂O₂ concentration, solution pH, liquid-to-gas ratio, and O₂ concentration greatly enhances NO removal. Increasing NO and SO₂ concentration obviously reduces NO removal. Temperature has a dual impact on NO removal, which has an optimal temperature of 318 K. Sulfuric acid and nitric acid are the main removal products of NO and SO₂. NO removals by oxidation of O₃, O·, and ·OH are the primary routes. NO removals by H₂O₂ oxidation and VUV photolysis are the complementary routes. A potential scaled-up removal process was also proposed initially.