Copper-Modified Natural Sulfide Ore for Mercury Immobilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mercury removal materials, such as activated carbon and chemically synthesized metal sulfides, are inefficient, costly, and unsuitable for large-scale applications due to high operating costs, complex synthesis processes, and environmental constraints, while natural metal sulfide ores have limited mercury removal ability due to compact structure and small surface area.
Innovation Solution
A modified natural sulfide ore material is prepared by mixing a natural sulfide ore with a copper salt and subjecting the mixture to mechanical ball-milling and drying to increase active sites and change the crystal structure, allowing for efficient mercury immobilization and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If natural metal sulfide ores are used for mercury removal, then the material cost is low and environmental impact is reduced, but the mercury removal efficiency is low due to compact structure and small surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by altering the physical and chemical parameters of natural metal sulfide ores through mechanical activation (ball-milling) and chemical treatment (sulfurization). These parameter changes include reducing particle size, increasing specific surface area, and modifying surface chemistry to enhance mercury removal efficiency while maintaining the environmental benefits of using natural ores
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials by combining natural metal sulfide ores with additional sulfur compounds through the sulfurization process. This composite approach enhances the mercury removal capacity by introducing more active sulfur sites while preserving the cost优势和 environmental benefits of natural ores
2Productivity
If metal sulfide adsorbents are synthesized to improve mercury removal efficiency, then the mercury removal efficiency increases, but the synthesis process becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using naturally occurring metal sulfide ores as the starting material, which already possess the fundamental chemical composition needed for mercury removal. The process requires only simple mechanical activation and sulfurization treatments rather than complex multi-step syntheses, allowing the material to serve its function with minimal processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive natural metal sulfide ores as disposable or regenerable adsorbents. Rather than investing in complex synthesis processes to create permanent synthetic materials, the approach uses cheap, readily available natural ores that can be easily replaced or regenerated after use, reducing both synthesis complexity and operational costs
3Quantity of substance
If activated carbon is used for mercury removal, then the adsorption capacity is achieved, but the operating cost is high and regeneration is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from activated carbon to natural metal sulfide ores, which offer comparable or superior mercury adsorption capacity through their sulfur sites. This parameter change leads to lower material costs and enables regeneration capabilities, as the metal sulfide structure can be restored after saturation, unlike activated carbon
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by allowing the metal sulfide adsorbent to be regenerated after mercury saturation. The spent adsorbent can be thermally treated to release captured mercury and restore its adsorption capacity, enabling multiple reuse cycles and significantly reducing operating costs compared to single-use activated carbon
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified natural sulfide ore material exhibits high mercury adsorption capacity, wide application temperature range, and reduced environmental impact, with mercury removal rates dozens to thousands of times higher than unmodified ores, and lower production costs.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a natural sulfide ore with a copper salt and subjecting the resulting mixture to mechanical ball-milling for activation
Implementation Method 2
The metal sulfides can immobilize Hg as stable compounds (HgS) because the surface of the metal sulfides is enriched with many chemical groups that can spontaneously react with mercury
Data Source
AI summary
A modified natural sulfide ore material, a preparation method, and a use thereof are disclosed. A natural sulfide ore and a copper salt are used as raw materials. The natural sulfide ore is modified through mechanical grinding for activation, drying, and the like to synthesize a sulfide ore composite. The copper salt is subjected to a reaction to increase metal sites, produce fine microcrystalline particles, and change the crystal structure, such that active sites can be fully exposed. When contacting mercury in a gas phase and/or a liquid phase, the modified natural sulfide ore material can convert the mercury into a stable compound to realize the immobilization and removal of the mercury, which has advantages such as large mercury adsorption capacity, high adsorption rate, wide application temperature range, low cost, abundant raw material reserves, simple operation, and environmentally-friendly mercury removal products without secondary pollution and shows promising industrial application prospects.