Simultaneous removal of gaseous CO and elemental mercury over Cu-Co modified activated coke at low temperature

Cu-Co multiple-oxides modified on HNO₃-pretreated activated coke (AC_N) were optimized for the simultaneous removal of gaseous CO and elemental mercury (Hg⁰) at low temperature (< 200 °C). It was found that 2%CuOx-10%CoOx/AC_N catalyst calcined at 400°C resulted in the coexistence of complex oxides including CuO, Cu₂O, Co₃O₄, Co₂O₃ and CoO phases, which might be good for the simultaneous catalytic oxidation of CO by Co-species and removal of Hg⁰ by Cu-species, benefiting from the synergistic catalysis during the electro-interaction between Co and Cu cations (CoO ⇌ Co₃O₄ and Cu₂O ⇌ CuO). The catalysis removal of CO oxidation was obviously depended on the reaction temperature obtaining 94.7% at 200 °C, while no obvious promoting effect on the Hg⁰ removal (68.3%-78.7%). These materials were very substitute for the removal of CO and Hg° from the flue gas with the conditions of 8-20 vol.% O₂ and flue-gas temperature below 200 °C. The removal of Hg° followed the combination processes of adsorption and catalytic oxidation reaction via Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, while the catalysis of CO abided by the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism with lattice oxygen species.