Application of different forms of nickel adsorbent for adsorption of mercury compounds from a liquid hydrocarbon

Abstract

In this study, removal of mercury compounds from liquid hydrocarbon by adsorption was investigated. Adsorbents were nickel, nickel oxide and nickel sulfide on silica support. Nickel content that was loaded on silica was 2.0 and 4.0% by weight. A set of experiments was conducted at atmospheric pressure and temperature of 30 ํC, 50 [degrees Celsius] and 70 ํC. Mercuric (II) chloride and diphenylmercury were selected as model of ionic and organic forms of mercury compounds. Mercury compounds were dissolved in toluene which represented liquid hydrocarbon to obtain feedstock solution that contained 1 ppm of mercury. The results show that nickel adsorbents can remove both mercuric (II) chloride and diphenylmercury from liquid hydrocarbon. Removal of mercury compounds depends on type of mercury compounds, operating temperatures and nickel contents. Percent removal of mercury compounds increases with increasing operating temperature and nickel content. Ability of adsorbents on removal of mercuric (II) chloride is in the following order: nickel sulfide > nickel > nickel oxide. In the adsorption of diphenyllmercury, ability of each adsorbent is similar. In the adsorption of mercuric (II) chloride, nickelmercury (NiHg) and mercuric sulfide (HgS) are detected on spent nickel and nickel sulfide adsorbents respectively.