Removing mercury from gases or liquids - by contact with supported copper sulphide absorbent

摘要

Removal of Hg from gases or liquids is carried out by contact with a fixed bed of an absorbent comprising Cu sulphide on a SiO2, Al2O3, SiO2-Al2O3, silicate, aluminate or aluminosilicate support. (pref. Al2O3 or a cement). The process can be used to treat natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and electrolytically produced H2, etc. High space velocities (e.g. LHSV = 5000-40,000) can be used, and the absorbent is resistant to deactivation by absorption of C5+ hydrocarbons. The absorbent can contain 2-65 (pref. 5-50) wt.% of Cu sulphide. It can be activated by heating in the presence of a light hydrocarbon (opt. in the presence of steam). It can be regenerated by heating in a stream of purge gas (e.g. air, CH4 or H2) at 200-500 degrees C, opt. followed by resulphiding.