Mercury Removal Adsorbents

Mercury removal from hydrocarbons is crucial due to HSE-related issues, corrosion problems and downstream catalyst poisoning. It is a challenge commonly faced in natural gas processing plants, oil refineries, petrochemical industry and power plants. The standard adsorption mechanism is a chemical reaction between mercury and active sulfur included in the adsorbent active phase, leading to the most stable solid form called cinnabar (HgS). This is a non-regenerative process with an irreversible mercury capture.

Nowadays, mercury is removed ideally in the up-front position of the process, which implies the need of high capacitive adsorbents, resistant to severe operating conditions.