Compositions and methods for removing mercury from mercury-containing fluids
First Claim
1. An oxidative sorbent composition for the substantial removal of mercury from mercury-containing fluids comprising:
- a matrix material selected from one or more silicates;
at least one metal halide impregnated in the matrix material for oxidizing Hg0 present in the mercury-containing fluids to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II); and
about 1% to about 30% activated carbon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Oxidative sorbents are provided for adsorbing elemental or oxidized mercury from mercury-containing fluids such as flue gas from a coal-burning power utility or the like at a temperature range of about 50 to 350° C. The method of preparing and using the oxidative sorbents is also provided. The oxidative sorbent compositions include one or more silicates capable of cation exchange with a plurality of active metal cations and their counter anions. The silicates may include those selected from clays such as montmorillonite, laumonite, bentonite, Mica, vermiculite and kaolinite, and from silica gels, natural and synthetic molecular sieves, zeolites, and ashes from stoker- and pulverized coal-fired boilers. The one or more oxidative metal halides and/or sulfates may be selected from the group consisting of CuCl, CuBr, CuCl2, CuBr2, CuSO4, FeCl2, FeCl3, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, NiCl2, and NiSO4. The oxidative sorbents may also include activated carbon.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An oxidative sorbent composition for the substantial removal of mercury from mercury-containing fluids comprising:
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a matrix material selected from one or more silicates; at least one metal halide impregnated in the matrix material for oxidizing Hg0 present in the mercury-containing fluids to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II); and about 1% to about 30% activated carbon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for preparation of an oxidative sorbent composition for use in substantially removing mercury from fluids, comprising the steps of:
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contacting one or more silicates with at least one metal halide, wherein the at least one metal halide is in a solution, to make metal-impregnated silicates for oxidizing Hg0 to one of Hg (I) and Hg(II); adding activated carbon to the metal-impregnated silicates; and removing the solution from the oxidative sorbent composition; wherein the at least one metal halide is selected from the group consisting of CuCl, CuBr, CuCl2, CuBr2, FeCl2, FeCl3, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, and NiCl2; and wherein the one or more silicates are selected from the group consisting of clays such as montmorillonite, laumonite, bentonite, Mica, vermiculite and kaolinite, and from silica gels, natural and synthetic molecular sieves, zeolites, and ashes from stoker—
and pulverized coal-fired boilers. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to capture mercury from mercury-containing fluid, comprising the steps of:
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contacting the mercury-containing fluid with an oxidative sorbent, the oxidative sorbent comprising one or more silicates impregnated with at least one metal halide for oxidizing Hg0 to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II); oxidizing Hg0 present in the mercury-containing fluid to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II) with the metal halide; and capturing the Hg(I) and Hg(II) onto at least one of the silicates of the oxidative sorbent; wherein the at least one metal halide is selected from the group consisting of CuCl, CuBr, CuCl2, CuBr2, FeCl2, FeCl3, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, and NiCl2; and wherein the one or more silicates are selected from the group consisting of clays such as montmorillonite, laumonite, bentonite, Mica, vermiculite and kaolinite, and from silica gels, natural and synthetic molecular sieves, zeolites, and ashes from stoker—
and pulverized coal-fired boilers. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method to capture mercury from a flue gas stream containing elemental and ionic mercury, comprising the steps of:
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injecting a porous oxidative sorbent into the flue gas stream, wherein the porous oxidative sorbent comprises; at least one metal halide selected from the group consisting of CuCl, CuBr, CuCl2, CuBr2, FeCl2, FeCl3, ZnCl2, ZnBr2, and NiCl2 for oxidizing Hg0 to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II); and a matrix material selected from one or more silicates selected from the group consisting of clays such as montmorillonite, laumonite, bentonite, Mica, vermiculite and kaolinite, and from silica gels, natural and synthetic molecular sieves, zeolites, and ashes from stoker—
and pulverized coal-fired boilers;oxidizing Hg0 present in the flue gas stream to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II) with the metal halide; capturing the oxidized mercury onto the porous oxidative sorbent when the oxidative sorbent is exposed to the flue gas stream; and removing and disposing of the spent oxidative sorbent.
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18. A process for treating the surface of one or more silicates for ion exchange comprising:
contacting the surface of montmorillonite clay with CuCl2 in acetone solution, wherein the CuCl2 is used to oxidize Hg0 present in a flue gas stream to one of Hg(I) and Hg(II).
Specification