Polymetallic Capture Mass for Mercury Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capture masses for heavy metals in gaseous or liquid effluents, particularly those containing mercury, face limitations in retention capacity and stability, especially when exposed to wet conditions, due to agglomeration of active phases and partial blocking of pores, leading to reduced catalytic activity and short service life.
Innovation Solution
A polymetallic capture mass comprising a porous solid support, copper sulphide, and a second metal sulphide selected from chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, or nickel, with a specific weight ratio of 0.01 to 2, which acts synergistically to enhance mercury adsorption capacity and stability, even in wet environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elemental sulphur is deposited on activated charcoal to form capture mass, then mercury capture capability is improved, but stability deteriorates when exposed to wet conditions due to entrainment of active phase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system combining sulphur-bearing compounds with metal sulphides (CuS, FeS, MnS, NiS, CoS, CrS) deposited on a porous support. This composite structure provides both mercury capture capability through sulphur reaction and stability through the metal sulphide framework that prevents active phase entrainment in wet conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous support material as the foundation for depositing sulphur-bearing compounds and metal sulphides. The porous structure provides high surface area for mercury capture while maintaining mechanical stability and preventing collapse or entrainment when exposed to wet conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between capture capability and stability.
2Quantity of substance
If metal sulphide content is increased to improve heavy metal retention capacity, then adsorption capacity improves, but pore blocking increases leading to reduced catalytic activity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the parameters of metal sulphide content, particle size, and pore structure to achieve the desired balance. By controlling the amount of metal sulphide (0.1-10% by weight) and adjusting particle size and porosity, the patent maximizes heavy metal retention capacity while maintaining sufficient pore accessibility for catalytic activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local variations in metal sulphide distribution within the porous structure, concentrating active phases in specific regions while maintaining open pore structures in other areas. This local quality differentiation allows high retention capacity in metal-rich zones while preserving catalytic activity through accessible pore networks.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional single-metal sulphide capture masses are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but synergistic enhancement of adsorption capacity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple metal sulphides (CuS, FeS, MnS, NiS, CoS, CrS) into a single capture mass formulation, combining their synergistic effects to enhance mercury and heavy metal adsorption capacity. This combination approach improves reliability while maintaining reasonable manufacturing simplicity through co-deposition processes.
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 capture mass demonstrates improved heavy metal adsorption performance, particularly for mercury, with increased saturation capacity and extended service life, effectively treating both gaseous and liquid effluents without significant reduction in performance when exposed to wet conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The impurity to be eliminated, in this case mercury, is then irreversibly retained, preferably by chemisorption, in or at the surface of the capture mass and the effluent evacuated from the capture mass bed is thus purified.
Implementation Method 2
elemental sulphur S reacts irreversibly with elemental mercury, Hg°, as follows: Hg°(g/l)+S(s)→HgS(s)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a capture mass for capturing heavy metals in a liquid or gaseous effluent, comprising a porous solid support, copper sulphide and at least one second metal sulphide the metal of which is selected from the group constituted by chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel, and in which the ratio of the percentage by weight of the metal or metals other than copper to the percentage by weight of copper is in the range 0.01 to 2. The invention also concerns a process for preparing said capture mass and a process for capturing heavy metals in a gaseous or liquid effluent, in which said effluent is brought into contact with said capture mass.