In this study, a novel Hg 0 adsorption strategy based on nonthermal plasma and porous carbon was proposed and tested. The O 2 and NO in flue gas were used to activate porous carbon with auxiliary plasma. The plasma significantly increased the functionalities on the carbon surface, and it has a negligible effect on the textural properties of porous carbon. The O 2 /NO co-doped porous carbon was used to remove elemental mercury (Hg 0 ). The sample functionalized by plasma in 4% O 2 and 200 ppm NO (balanced with N 2 ) for 3 min exhibited superior Hg 0 adsorption ability, which could be assigned to the formation of a large amount of CO, C−NO, and C−NO 2 . O 2 , NO, and HCl have a positive effect on Hg 0 adsorption, whereas SO 2 and H 2 O have an inhibitory effect on Hg 0 removal. The equilibrium Hg 0 adsorption capacity of optimal O 2 /NO co-doped porous carbon was found to be 12315 μg/g, which was far greater than that of brominated activated carbon (1061 μg/g). Density functional theory was used to investigate the mechanism responsible for Hg 0 adsorption. CO and C−NO improved the interaction of Hg 0 with neighboring carbon sites. C−NO 2 could react with Hg 0 by forming HgO.
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