Adsorption kinetic and equilibrium study for removal of mercuric chloride by CuCl2-impregnated activated carbon sorbent

► Intrinsic adsorption kinetics of HgCl2 was obtained for raw and CuCl2-AC sorbents. ► Model includes adsorption kinetics, equilibrium, and internal and external mass transfer. ► Adsorption equilibrium confirms physical adsorption of HgCl2 onto CuCl2-AC sorbents. ► High CuCl2 loading can result in high binding energy of HgCl2 adsorption on carbon. ► HgCl2 desorption rate for CuCl2-AC sorbents was found to significantly decrease.