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Synthesis of activated carbon from coal pitch for mercury removal in coal-fired power plants

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Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) is an effective adsorbent that is used in a wide range of applications. This is due to its high adsorption capacity and fast removal rate. This study evaluated processing conditions for synthesizing AC from coal pitch. The objective was to establish what processing conditions produced AC with the best adsorption performance. Factors such as carbonization temperature, activation temperature, steam flow rate and the addition of additives have been studied. A real-time, fixed-bed mercury adsorption system was used to evaluate the AC prepared from coal pitch. Results showed that the temperature and the KOH mixing rate in the carbonization process play an important role in the formation of the functional groups on the surface of the char. Additionally, the temperature and the steam flow rate in the activation process significantly affects AC surface area and pore distribution, important factors relating to mercury adsorption performance.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 program) (No. 2013AA065404).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Condition Monitoring and Control for Power Plant Equipment, Ministry of Education, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

    Longchun Zhong, Yongsheng Zhang, Yong Ji & Wei-Ping Pan

  2. Institute of Combustion Science and Environmental Technology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101, USA

    Pauline Norris & Wei-Ping Pan

Authors
  1. Longchun Zhong
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  2. Yongsheng Zhang
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  3. Yong Ji
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  4. Pauline Norris
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  5. Wei-Ping Pan
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Correspondence to Yongsheng Zhang.

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Zhong, L., Zhang, Y., Ji, Y. et al. Synthesis of activated carbon from coal pitch for mercury removal in coal-fired power plants. J Therm Anal Calorim 123, 851–860 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4966-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4966-5

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