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Electrochemical enhancement of high-efficiency wet removal of mercury from flue gas

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Abstract

Electrochemical wet absorption composite system has an excellent potential to remove Hg0 from flue gas. In this study, ruthenium iridium titanium platinum quaternary composite electrode is used as an anode and titanium electrode is used as the cathode, and KI/I2 absorption solution is introduced into the electrocatalysis system as an electrolyte to form KI/I2 electrochemical catalytic oxidation system. The removal rate of Hg0 in flue gas can be increased to 92.3%. The effects of electrolytic voltage, current, Pt content, I2 concentration, and the ratio of KI/I2 on the removal of Hg0 were discussed. The possible free radicals in the electrochemical cathode, anode, and solution were characterized and tested by XRD, SEM, UV-Vis (detection of H2O2, ·OH, O3), and FTIR (detection of IO3-). Combined with experimental data and theoretical derivation, the mechanism of Hg0 removal from flue gas by electrochemical catalytic oxidation alloy formation wet absorption combined process was studied. The results show that the combined process, which is a promising technology can not only improve the removal efficiency of Hg0, but also realize the resource recovery of Hg0 and I2, and provide a feasibility study for the subsequent regeneration of KI/I2 absorption solution.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 42162006); the Special Fund for Social Development of Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology ([2020]4Y018); Guizhou Science and Technology Foundation (ZK [2021] General 062); Doctoral Research Fund of Guizhou Normal University, China (GZNUD [2019]6).

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The original idea was suggested by Sen Li. The experimental work was carried out by Nai-jiao Xu with guidance from Sen Li, Zhao-yang Wang, Li-juan Feng and Ji Wang. Nai-jiao Xu and Sen Li drafted the article. Zhao-yang Wang, Li-juan Feng, Yu-hong Fu, and Ji Wang were involved in the critical revision of the article for important intellectual content. Sen Li and Yu-hong Fu acquired the funding and were responsible for resources. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sen Li.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Responsible Editor: Ioannis A. Katsoyiannis

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Xu, Nj., Li, S., Fu, Yh. et al. Electrochemical enhancement of high-efficiency wet removal of mercury from flue gas. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 29105–29116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18462-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18462-7

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