Titania nanotubes—A unique photocatalyst and adsorbent for elemental mercury removal

The titania nanotubes (TNTs) which generated by hydrothermal method has been used for the removal of elemental mercury (Hg0) in the flue gases. Synergistic photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption were observed in this system, which resulted in an increasing tendency of removal efficiency. Results from the Hg0 removal experiments demonstrated that TNTs was a wonderful catalyst and adsorbent for the removal of elelmental mercury and the removal efficiency was controlled by both morphology and crystal form of the TNTs. With calcination temperature of 500 °C, the TNTs showed the best removal performance for elemental mercury.

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► We synthesized TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) for the removal of Hg0 in the flue gas.
► We found that the Hg0 removal efficiency of TNTs could exceed 90% for 100 h reaction.
► The synergistic effect between the photocatalytic oxidation and adsorption was enhanced by nanotube structure.
► We found that TNTs was a wonderful photocatalyst for the removal of Hg0.