Removal of elemental mercury by photocatalytic oxidation over La₂O₃/Bi₂O₃ composite

La₂O₃/Bi₂O₃ photocatalysts were prepared by impregnation of Bi₂O₃ with an aqueous solution of lanthanum precursor followed by calcination at different temperatures. The composite materials were used for the first time for the photocatalytic removal of Hg⁰ from a simulated flue gas under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the sample containing 6 wt.% La₂O₃ and calcined at 500°C has the highest dispersion of the active sites, which was promoted by the strong interaction with the support (i.e., the formation of Bi-O-La species). Since they are fully accessible on the surface, the material also exhibits excellent optical properties while the heterojunction formed in La₂O₃/Bi₂O₃ promotes the separation and migration of photoelectron-hole pairs and thus Hg⁰ oxidation efficiency is enhanced. The effects of the various factors (e.g., the reaction temperature and composition of the simulated flue gas (i.e., O₂, NO, H₂O, and SO₂)) on the efficiency of the Hg⁰ photocatalytic oxidation were investigated. The results demonstrated that O₂ and SO₂ enhanced the efficiency of the reaction while the reaction temperature, NO, and H₂O had an inhibitory effect.