[Application of activated carbon from waste tea in desulfurization and denitrification]

The effects of pore structure, graphite and surface structure of waste tea activated carbon on its desulfurization and denitrification performance were investigated. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption process were also studied. The results showed that less graphitization, lower micropore size and more nitrogenous basic group of adsorbent enhanced its desulfurization ability. When well- developed mesopores were present in adsorbent, the NO removal efficiency was decreased, while more nitrogenous basic groups promoted the removal rate of NO. When SO2 and NO were removed together, competing adsorption occurred. After oxygen and steam were introduced to the flue gas, the removal efficiencies of SO2 and NO were increased. The adsorption of SO2 and NO onto waste tea activated carbon was physical adsorption without O2 and H2O, while the vapor promoted chemical adsorption of SO2 in the presence of water and oxygen. The adsorption process of the material can be well described by Bangham's kinetic equation, and the value of R2 was no less than 0.989. O2 and water vapor slowed the adsorption rates of SO2 and NO.