Adsorption powder for removing mercury from high temperature, high moisture gas streams

• US 6,533,842 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Maes, Rudy J., Seth, Subash, El-Shoubary, Youssef
• Primary Examiner(s): Spitzer, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/512,409
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 951/33, 951/34, 951/41, 951/42, 959/00, 961/08, 961/32, 961/35, 961/36, 961/54, 423/210
• US Class Current: 95/134
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/602 Mercury or mercury compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/64 Heavy metals or compounds thereof, e.g. mercury
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/70 Organic halogen compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/0237 Compounds of Cu
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/0288 Halides of compounds other than those provided for in B01J20/046
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/041 Oxides or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/046 containing halogens, e.g. halides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/20 comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3204 Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3236 containing metal, other than zeolites, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, sulphides or salts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/42 Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic materials materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2201/303 Burning pyrogases
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2201/50 Devolatilising; from soil, objects
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 2209/24 Contaminated soil; foundry sand
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 2215/301 Dioxins; Furans
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 2215/60 Heavy metals; Compounds thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 2217/101 Baghouse type
• CPC Class Codes: F23J 2219/60 Sorption with dry devices, e.g. beds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 95/90 : Solid sorbent

Abstract

There is disclosed an adsorption powder effective for capturing mercury from a high temperature, high moisture gas stream comprising: about 1-97% carbon; about 1-97% calcium hydroxide; about 1-97% cupric chloride impregnated carbon, and about 1-60% carbon impregnated with KI₃. Additionally, a method of removing mercury from high temperature, high moisture gas streams is disclosed.

Claims

1. An adsorption powder for removing mercury and other metals, dioxins, furans and other organic compounds from a gas stream, comprising:

a) about 40% carbon;

b) about 40% calcium hydroxide;

c) about 10% cupric chloride; and

d) about 10% KI₃ impregnated carbon.

2. The adsorption powder of claim 1 wherein the carbon is coal carbon.

3. The adsorption powder of claim 1, wherein the carbon is selected from the group consisting of coal and wood.

4. A method for removing mercury and other metals, dioxins, furans and other organic compounds from a gas stream using the adsorption powder of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

a) placing a solid phase mercury-containing contaminated soil feed into a rotary kiln/drum;

b) heating said kiln/drum containing said soil feed to form gaseous and solid components of the sample;

c) transferring the gaseous component of said soil feed to an exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner and the solid component of clean soil to a soil cooling unit;

d) heating the gaseous component of said contaminated soil feed in said exhaust cleaning unit/afterburner;

e) cooling the gaseous component of said contaminated soil feed;

f) adding an adsorption powder comprising about 40% carbon, about 40% calcium hydroxide, about 10% cupric chloride impregnated carbon and about 10% KI₃ impregnated carbon to the gaseous component to adsorb mercury;

g) transferring the powder-containing gaseous component to a baghouse; and

h) releasing the substantially mercury-free gaseous component of said sample to the atmosphere.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the gas streeam exhibits high temperature and high moisture.

6. An adsorption powder suitable for removing mercury and other heavy metals, dioxins, furans, and organic compounds from high temperature, high moisture gaseous streams, the powder comprising carbon and an effective amount of cupric chloride suitable for removing mercury.