Catalytic performance of CuCl2-modified V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst for Hg0 oxidation in simulated flue gas

CuCl2-SCR catalysts prepared by an improved impregnation method were studied to evaluate the catalytic performance for gaseous elemental mercury (Hg-0) oxidation in simulated flue gas. Hg-0 oxidation activity of commercial SCR catalyst was significantly improved by the introduction of CuCl2. Nitrogen adsorption, XRD, XRF and XPS were used to characterize the catalysts. The results indicated that CuCl2 was well loaded and highly dispersed on the catalyst surface, and that CuCl2 played an important role for Hg-0 catalytic oxidation. The effects of individual flue gas components on Hg-0 oxidation were also investigated over CuCl2-SCR catalyst at 350 oC. The co-presence of NO and NH3 remarkably inhibited Hg-0 oxidation, while this inhibiting effect was gradually scavenged with the decrease of GHSV. Further study revealed the possibility of simultaneous removal of Hg-0 and NO over CuCl2-SCR catalyst in simulated flue gas. The mechanism of Hg-0 oxidation was also investigated.