Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
1-15-2012
Abstract/Description
Activated carbon is known to adsorb aqueous Hg(II). MPAC (magnetic powdered activated carbon) has the potential to remove aqueous Hg to less than 0.2 mg/L while being magnetically recoverable. Magnetic recapture allows simple sorbent separation from the waste stream while an isolated waste potentially allows for mercury recycling. MPAC Hg-removal performance is verified by mercury mass balance, calculated by quantifying adsorbed, volatilized, and residual aqueous mercury. The batch reactor contained a sealed mercury-carbon contact chamber with mixing and constant N2(g) headspace flow to an oxidizingtrap. Mercury adsorption was performed using spiked ultrapure water (100 mg/L Hg). Mercury concentrations were obtained using EPA method 245.1 and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. MPAC synthesis was optimized for Hg removal and sorbent recovery according to the variables: C:Fe, thermal oxidation temperature and time. The 3:1 C:Fe preserved most of the original sorbent surface area. As indicated by XRD patterns, thermal oxidation reduced the amorphous characteristic of the iron oxides but did not improve sorbent recovery and damaged porosity at higher oxidation temperatures. Therefore, the optimal synthesis variables, 3:1 C:Fe mass ratio without thermal oxidation, which can achieve 92.5% (± 8.3%) sorbent recovery and 96.3% (±9%) Hg removal. The mass balance has been closed to within approximately ±15%.
Publication Title
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Publisher
Elsevier
City
Cambridge
Scholarly Commons Citation
Faulconer, E. K., Hoogesteijn von Reitzenstein, N., & Mazyck, D. W. (2012). Optimization of Magnetic Powdered Activated Carbon for Aqueous Hg(II) Removal and Magnetic Recovery. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 199-200(). Retrieved from https://commons.erau.edu/db-physical-sciences/48
Additional Information
Dr. Faulconer was not affiliated with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the time this paper was published.