Study on the removal of elemental mercury from simulated flue gas by Fe₂O₃-CeO₂/AC at low temperature.

Fe2O3 and CeO2 modified activated coke (AC) synthesized by the equivalent-volume impregnation were employed to remove elemental mercury (Hg(0)) from simulated flue gas at a low temperature. Effects of the mass ratio of Fe2O3 and CeO2, reaction temperature, and individual flue gas components including O2, NO, SO2, and H2O (g) on Hg(0) removal efficiency of impregnated AC were investigated. The samples were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results showed that with optimal mass percentage of 3 % Fe2O3 and 3 % CeO2 on Fe3Ce3/AC, the Hg(0) removal efficiency could reach an average of 88.29 % at 110 °C. Besides, it was observed that O2 and NO exhibited a promotional effect on Hg(0) removal, H2O (g) exerted a suppressive effect, and SO2 showed an insignificant inhibition without O2 to some extent. The analysis of XPS indicated that the main species of mercury on used Fe3Ce3/AC was HgO, which implied that adsorption and catalytic oxidation were both included in Hg(0) removal. Furthermore, the lattice oxygen, chemisorbed oxygen, and/or weakly bonded oxygen species made a contribution to Hg(0) oxidation.