Coal-fired
mercury (Hg) pollution control is an important global
environmental context. Eight coal samples from different coal fields
in China were used to investigate Hg species and the Hg removal effects
under different pyrolysis conditions in the presence of nitrogen.
These conditions included temperature, particle size, and residence
time. The study concludes that the temperature is the most important
factor affecting Hg removal from coal, and the mercury release activity
at specific temperatures depends on the species and content of Hg
present. Large particle size limits the removal rate of Hg, and coal
particles smaller than 40 mesh are more favorable for the rapid removal
of Hg. For most coal types, pyrolysis of 10–15 min can achieve
the ultimate Hg removal effect. Rapid pyrolysis at 600 °C in
nitrogen is feasible to remove Hg from coal. Consequently, the Hg
removal rate reaches 88–100%, the loss rate of coal calorific
value is 2–12%, and approximately 17–58% of S is removed
synergistically. HgS, HgSe, HgSO
4
, organic matter Hg, and
HgO are the main types of Hg species detected in coal, whose thermal
decomposition characteristics are the essential criteria for determining
the type of Hg removal process. This research will facilitate the
improvement of pollution control methods for coal-source Hg pollution.