Polarity effect of pulsed corona discharge for the oxidation of gaseous elemental mercury

Abstract

The effect of polarity on the oxidation of Hg(0) was examined in the presence of O(2) via a pulsed corona discharge (PCD). The experimental result showed no difference in the energy yield of Hg(0) oxidation at both positive and negative PCDs (similar to 8 mu g Hg W h(-1) at following conditions: total flow rate = 2 L min(-1) (Hg(0) = 50 mu g N m(-3), O(2) = 10%, and N(2) balance), temperature = 150 degrees C, and specific energy density = 5-15 W h N m(-3)). This suggests that the positive PCD process used to control gaseous air pollutants may play an essential key role in Hg(0) oxidation because it consumes enough energy (similar to 15 W h N m(-3)) but an electrical precipitator could not because it consumes less energy (similar to 0.3 W h N m(-3)) to oxidize Hg(0). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.