Preparation of activated carbon for mercury capture from chicken waste and coal

Chicken waste and chicken waste blended samples with selected high sulfur coal were used as raw materials for activated carbon preparation. Raw materials were subjected to the preparation procedures of carbonization in a nitrogen atmosphere and activation in a steam atmosphere. The basic properties of the raw materials, chars and activated carbons were investigated by components analysis, surface porosity and thermogravimetric analysis. Two activated carbon samples were selected for elemental mercury capture tests in a lab-scale drop tube reactor with air flow.

The current results show that chicken waste is not a suitable raw material for activated carbon production due to its higher contents of volatile matter and ash. Coal can be used as a carbon carrier for improving the carbon content of products. A low-cost activated carbon was prepared by a co-process of chicken waste and coal, and examining the high capture efficiency for elemental mercury. It suggests that the coal provides a carbon carrier or trap for some active species, such as chlorine released from the chicken waste. These active species would likely provide or create the adsorptive sites on the surface of activated carbon for elemental mercury.