Simultaneous Removal of NO and Hg(0) from Flue Gas over Mn-Ce/Ti-PILCs

A series of Mn-Ce/Ti-PILCs (PILCs, pillared interlayered clays) catalysts were prepared via impregnation method in simultaneous removal of NO and elemental mercury in simulated flue gas. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts have been examined by some characterization methods, such as H2-TPR, nitrogen adsorption, XRD and XPS. Mn(6%)-Ce(6%)/Ti-PILCs exhibited superior NO conversion (>95%) and Hg(0) removal efficiency (>90%) at low temperature (250 °C). The results indicated that the elemental mercury had little impact on NO removal efficiency, while the presence of NH3 and NO in SCR system inhibited the Hg(0) removal. NO and Hg(0) removal activity was strongly affected by the transform between surface adsorbed oxygen and lattice oxygen. The species ratio of Mn(4+)/Mn(3+) and Ce(4+)/Ce(3+) on the catalyst surface contributed to the NO conversions and Hg(0) removal. Mn-Ce/Ti-PILCs displayed a broad prospect for controlling the emission of NO and mercury. On the basis of the results obtained, a mechanism for the simultaneous removal of NO and Hg(0) was proposed for the Mn-Ce/Ti-PILCs catalysts: -NH2 + NO → N2 + H2O, -OH + 1/2 Hg(ad) →1/2 HgO + 1/2 H2O.