Chemically-Enhanced Sorbent for Mercury Removal

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the sorbent by impregnating activated carbon with halogen compounds (such as bromine, chlorine, or iodine). This chemical modification alters the surface properties and adsorption characteristics of the carbon, enabling more effective mercury removal at lower energy inputs and reduced sorbent dosages compared to untreated activated carbon.

The patent creates a composite material by combining activated carbon with halogen-containing compounds. This composite structure leverages the high surface area and porosity of activated carbon along with the chemical reactivity of halogen compounds, producing a sorbent that achieves superior mercury removal efficiency while reducing the overall energy consumption and cost associated with using pure activated carbon.

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the sorbent through halogen impregnation, which enhances its ability to remove mercury even in the presence of high sulfur concentrations. This chemical enhancement allows the use of lower-cost sorbent materials while maintaining effective mercury removal in challenging flue gas conditions, thereby reducing production costs without sacrificing reliability.

The halogen compound acts as an intermediary that facilitates mercury removal in high-sulfur environments. The halogen impregnated on the sorbent surface creates intermediate chemical species that are more reactive toward mercury, enabling effective removal even when sulfur interferes with the direct adsorption process, thus maintaining efficiency while using cost-effective materials.

The patent employs activated carbon impregnated with halogen compounds as a disposable sorbent that can be injected directly into the flue gas stream. This approach replaces expensive, energy-intensive hydrated lime or lime systems with a lower-cost activated carbon-based sorbent that achieves comparable or superior acid gas removal effectiveness without the high energy consumption associated with lime production and processing.

The patent substitutes the mechanical/thermal process of lime production and heating with a chemical impregnation process. Instead of producing hydrated lime or lime through energy-intensive calcination and hydration processes, the patent uses activated carbon that is chemically modified through halogen impregnation, replacing the mechanical/thermal system with a chemical treatment approach that consumes significantly less energy while maintaining removal effectiveness.