Non-Thermal Plasma Removal of Elemental Mercury from Exhaust Gases

Mechanism of Non-Thermal Plasma Removal of Elemental Mercury from Exhaust Gases 

Another reactionpath is oxidation of Hg° by ozone. The reaction has been experimentally studied at low reagent concentration (30 ppbV of ozone) and characterized by relatively slow kinetics (Tokos et al., 1998)  

Oxidation of Hg° by peroxide (H2O2) also takes place in plasma but is characterized by relatively slow kinetics similar to (11-134). The presence of water clrrsters, droplets, and microsurfaces (such as fly ash) can significantly accelerate the oxidation of Hg°, in particular due to the following surface reaction (Babko-Malyi et al., 2000)  

In liquid or cluster phases, Hg + is stable (in particular at low pH) but also may be transferred into other ionic forms of Hg(II) (Hg2, HgCl+, HgCl , etc. Babko-Malyi et al., 2000). Hg(II) dissolved or captured in the clusters can then be removed from the system using conventional technologies. 

Plasma Decomposition of Freons (Chlorofluorocarbons) and Other Waste Treatment Processes Organized in Thermal and Transitional Discharges 

---