Method for scavenging mercury

• US 7,479,263 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Liu, Zhao-rong, Yan, Naiqiang, Chang, Shih-ger, Liu, Shou-heng
• Primary Examiner(s): Vanoy; Timothy C
• Application Number:
  US11/101,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20060057044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 423/210, 951/34
• US Class Current: 423/210
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/602 Mercury or mercury compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/64 Heavy metals or compounds thereof, e.g. mercury

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for removing mercury from a gas stream comprising contacting the gas stream with a getter composition comprising bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof. In one preferred embodiment the getter composition is adsorbed onto a sorbent. The sorbent may be selected from the group consisting of flyash, limestone, lime, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, activated carbon, charcoal, silicate, alumina and mixtures thereof. Preferred is flyash, activated carbon and silica.

Claims

1. A method for removing mercury from a gas stream, comprising:

contacting the gas stream with a getter composition that oxidizes volatile or insoluable Hg to non-volatile or soluble Hg, wherein said material is in a gaseous state prior to contact with the volatile or insoluble mercury in the gas stream.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the getter composition comprises a halogen.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the getter composition comprises at least one of sulphur monochloride or sulphur dichloride.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the getter composition comprises at least one of bromochloride or sulphur bromide.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the getter composition comprises bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof.

3. A method for removing mercury from gas stream, comprising:

contacting the gas stream with liquid bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride to oxidize volatile or insoluble Hg to non-volatile or soluble Hg.

7. A method for removing mercury from a gas stream, comprising:

contacting the gas stream with a getter composition that oxidizes volatile or insoluable Hg to non-volatile or soluble Hg, the getter absorbed onto a sorbent selected from the group consisting of limestone, lime, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, silicate, alumina and mixtures thereof, wherein the getter composition comprises bromine, bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the getter composition comprises halogen.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the getter composition is bromine.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the getter composition is bromine.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the sorbent is silicate.

12. A method according to claim 7, wherein the sorbent is collected in a baghouse or electrostatic precipitator.

13. A method according to claim 7, wherein the getter composition comprises at least one of sulphur monochloride or sulphur dichloride.

14. A method according to claim 7, wherein the getter composition comprises at least on of bromochloride or sulphur bromide.

15. A method for removing mercury from a gas stream, comprising:

contacting the gas stream with a getter composition that oxidizes volatile or insoluable Hg to non-volatile or soluble Hg, the getter adsorbed onto a sorbent selected from the group consisting of carbonaceous materials and flyash and mixture thereof, wherein the getter composition comprises bromochloride, sulphur bromide, sulphur dichlorid, or sulphur monochloride and mixtures thereof.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the sorbent is carbonaceous.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the sorbent is flyash.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the getter composition is bromochloride.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the getter composition is sulphur bromide.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the getter composition is sulphur dichloride or sulphur monochloride.