title: Regenerable sorbents for mercury capture in simulated coal combustion flue gas.
abstract: This work demonstrates that regenerable sorbents containing nano-particles of gold dispersed on an activated carbon are efficient and long-life materials for capturing mercury species from coal combustion flue gases. These sorbents can be used in such a way that the high investment entailed in their preparation will be compensated for by the recovery of all valuable materials. The characteristics of the support and dispersion of gold in the carbon surface influence the efficiency and lifetime of the sorbents. The main factor that determines the retention of mercury and the regeneration of the sorbent is the presence of reactive gases that enhance mercury retention capacity. The capture of mercury is a consequence of two mechanisms: (i) the retention of elemental mercury by amalgamation with gold and (ii) the retention of oxidized mercury on the activated carbon support. These sorbents were specifically designed for retaining the mercury remaining in gas phase after the desulfurization units in coal power plants.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional del Carbón (CSIC), Francisco Pintado Fe 26, 33011 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Pérez
authors.forename: M Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: López-Antón
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz-Somoano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: M Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martínez-Tarazona
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000327:Adsorption; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry; D003031:Coal / Q000032:analysis*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008670:Metals; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D011210:Power Plants; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D003031:Coal; D005740:Gases; D008670:Metals; D002606:Charcoal; D002244:Carbon; D006046:Gold; D008628:Mercury; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Coal combustion; Gold; Mercury; Regeneration