Precipitated Copper Sulfide Adsorbent for Mercury Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing metal sulfides for mercury removal from gases and liquids are inefficient, as they do not effectively utilize the unique morphology and reactivity of precipitated metal sulfides, which have more adsorption sites and surface area compared to sulfides produced by other means.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the precipitation of copper sulfide using a copper source, sulfide source, and modifier, such as alumina or silica, to form a composition that enhances mercury adsorption through physical and chemical adsorption, with the composition being used in contact with gas or liquid phases containing mercury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal sulfides are produced by conventional methods (reacting copper oxide with gaseous sulfide), then the production process is simple, but the mercury adsorption capacity is insufficient due to lower surface area and fewer adsorption sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the production method parameters from conventional gas-phase sulfidation to aqueous-phase precipitation, controlling factors such as pH, temperature, and reagent addition rate to produce metal sulfides with enhanced surface area and adsorption sites, thereby improving mercury adsorption capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite material structures by precipitating metal sulfides in the presence of supporting materials or modifiers, resulting in a composite that combines the high adsorption affinity of metal sulfides with the structural benefits of the support material, achieving superior mercury removal performance
2Area of stationary object
If metal sulfides are produced by precipitation method, then the surface area and adsorption sites are increased, but the production process becomes more complex requiring multiple reagents and conditions control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary preparation of aqueous solutions containing metal ions and sulfide ions before precipitation, adjusting pH and adding modifiers in advance, which simplifies the actual precipitation step and makes the complex process more controllable and reproducible
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces modifiers or supporting materials as intermediaries during precipitation that facilitate the formation of high-surface-area metal sulfide structures, acting as templates or stabilizers that guide the precipitation process toward the desired morphology without requiring overly complex process control
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 precipitated copper sulfide composition demonstrates improved mercury adsorption capacity, with mercury capacities exceeding 8,800 μg-Hg/g-A prior to 1% breakthrough, effectively removing mercury from gas and liquid phases.
Implementation Method 1
a process for removing mercury from a gas or liquid phase, wherein the gas or liquid phase containing mercury is placed in contact with a composition comprising a precipitated metal sulfide
Data Source
AI summary
A process for removing mercury from a gas or liquid phase, wherein the gas or liquid phase containing mercury is placed in contact with a composition comprising a precipitated metal sulfide. The precipitated metal sulfide may be made by the process of combining a metal source, sulfide source, and modifier to form the precipitated metal sulfide. The metal source may comprise iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, silver, or gold salts. The metal salt may be selected from metal nitrate, metal sulfate, metal phosphate, metal acetate, metal carbonate, metal hydroxide, metal ammonium carbonate, and metal hydroxycarbonate. The sulfide source is selected from hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbonyl sulfide (COS), salts of sulfide (S2−), salts of hydrosulfide (HS−), and salts of polysulfide (Sn2−). The modifier may be selected from alumina, silica, aluminosilicate, clay, zeolites, carbon, cement, titania, zirconia.