Adsorption Characteristics of Sulfur-impregnated Coal for Mercury in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

The adsorption of mercury from aqueous solution on sulfur-impregnated coal, which was prepared using K_2S, has been studied. With increasing temperature of sulfur-impregnation, specific surface area of the obtained coal increases, while sulfur content of the coal is almost constant. The sulfur-impregnated coal obtained at 900℃ shows the highest and fastest adsorption of mercury from aqueous solution at 25℃. The desorption extents of adsorbed mercury are negligible in distilled water, and 10% in 0.1M HCl solution. These results indicated that sulfur-impregnated coal could be used as an effective adsorbent for mercury.