Influence of type of support on adsorption of mercury compounds from a liquid hydrocarbon using copper oxide as an active

Abstract

Influence of type of support on adsorption of mercury compounds from liquid hydrocarbon was investigated in this study. The adsorbents were copper oxide on different types of supports. The supports used in this study were alumina, silica, activated carbon, silica-alumina and titanium oxide. Copper loading was 2.5% by weight. The experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures of 30 ํC, 50 ํC and 75 ํC. Mercuric chloride and diphenylmercury were used to represent inorganic and organic forms of mercury compounds. These compounds were dissolved in toluene to obtain solutions containing 1 ppm of mercury. The results showed that copper oxide adsorbents could be used effectively in the removal of mercury compounds from liquid hydrocarbon. Removal of mercury depended on operating temperature. In addition, it also depended on the types of mercury compounds. The results showed that mercuric chloride could be removed more effectively than diphenylmercury by all adsorbent. Removal of mercury also depended on type on types of supports. Adsorptive ability of adsorbent on mercury removal was in the following order: copper oxide/alumina>copper oxide/activated carbon>copper oxide/silica-alumina>copper oxide/titanium oxide>copper oxide/silica. Formation of copper mercury (CuHg and Cu[subscript 15]Hg[subscript 11]) was detected on spent copper oxide adsorbents.