Removal of mercury compounds from liquid hydrocarbon by adsorption on copper oxide and copper sulfide adsorbents

Abstract

Removal of mercury compounds from liquid hydrocarbon is investigated in this study. The experiments are conducted at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures of 30 ํC, 50 ํC and 70 ํC. Mercuric chloride and diphenylmercury are used to represent ionic and organic forms of mercury compounds. These compounds are dissolved in toluene to obtain solutions containing 1 ppm of mercury. The adsorbents are alumina, copper oxide on alumina support and copper sulfide on alumina support. Copper loading on copper oxide and copper sulfide adsorbents are 2.5% by weight. The results show that copper oxide and copper sulfide adsorbents can be used effectively in the removal of mercury compounds from hydrocarbon. Removal of mercury depended on temperature. In addition, it also depended on the type of mercury compound types. The results show that mercuric chloride can be removed more effectively than diphenylmercury by all adsorbent. Efficiency of adsorbent on mercury removal is in the following order : copper sulfide>copper oxide>alumina. Based on the experimental results, it is expected that the adsorption of mercuric chloride and diphenylmercury on copper oxide and copper sulfide adsorbent are a chemical adsorption. Formation of copper mercury (CuHg) and mercury sulfide (HgS) are detected on spent copper oxide and copper sulfide adsorbent respectively.