Low-Cost Organic Adsorbents for Elemental Mercury Removal from Lignite Flue Gas

The research presented by the authors in this paper focused on understanding behavior of mercury during coal combustion and flue gas purification operations. goal was to determine temperature emissions limits for lignites energy sector. examined process sorption from gases using fine-grained organic materials. main objectives study were recommend a low-cost adsorbent such as coke dust (CD), corn straw char (CS-400), brominated (CS-400-Br), rubber (RC-600) or granulated (GRC-600) efficiently substitute expensive dust-sized activated carbon. covered lignite Polish field. experiment conducted at temperatures reflecting conditions inside installation. One tested sorbents—tire-derived that obtained pyrolysis—exhibited good potential Hg0 into Hg2+ oxidation, resulting enhanced removal flue. characterization increased elevated bromine content (mercury oxidizing agent) comparison other selected adsorbents. This presents results laboratory tests 95, 125, 155 185 °C. average 465 μg·kg−1. concentration emitted atmosphere 17.8 µg·m−3. analyzed five sorbents with achieved efficiency 18.3% 96.1% depending temperature.