Regeneration mechanism of CeO2-TiO2 sorbents for elemental mercury capture from syngas

Abstract

The characteristics of mercury desorption on spent CeO 2 -TiO 2 (CeTi) sorbents were investigated to improve the cyclic regeneration removal activity. Mercury was significantly released in the form of elemental mercury at temperatures ranging from 250 to 280 o C. Mercury desorption had a significant correlation with regeneration temperature, but was independent of the heating rate and regeneration conditions. The optimal regeneration temperature was 500 o C. The CeTi sorbents could be easily restored by simple heating and exhibited superior activity over several capture-regeneration cycles. The amount of released mercury almost equaled the adsorbed mercury on the surface of the CeTi sorbent, indicating that most of the adsorbed mercury was released during the heating process.