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Insight into elemental mercury (Hg0) removal from flue gas using UV/H2O2 advanced oxidation processes
Changsong Zhou1,2,3, Zijian Song4, Hongmin Yang5
1Engineering Laboratory of Energy System Process Conversion and Emission Reduction Technology of Jiangsu Province, School of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210042, China. cszhou@njnu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Elemental mercury (Hg0) emitted from coal-fired power plants and municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerators has caused great harm to the environment and human beings. The strong oxidized •OH radicals produced by UV/H2O2 advanced oxidation processes were studied to investigate the performance of Hg0 removal from simulated flue gases. The results showed that when H2O2 concentration was 1.0 mol/L and the solution pH value was 4.1, the UV/H2O2 system had the highest Hg0 removal efficiency. The optimal reaction temperature was approximately 50 °C and Hg0 removal was inhibited when the temperature was higher or lower. The yield of •OH radicals during UV/H2O2 reaction was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis. UV radiation was the determining factor to remove Hg0 in UV/H2O2 system due to •OH generation during H2O2 decomposition. SO2 had little influence on Hg0 removal whereas NO had an inhibitory effect on Hg0 removal. The detailed findings for Hg0 removal reactions over UV/H2O2 make it an attractive method for mercury control from flue gases.
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