Heterogeneous catalytic reaction of elemental mercury vapor over cupric chloride for mercury emissions control

► CuCl2 oxidizes Hg(0) vapor while oxidizing Hg(0) to HgCl2 and reducing itself to CuCl. ► The reduced CuCl can be re-chlorinated to CuCl2 with HCl and O2 gases in flue gas. ► Hg(0) is oxidized by a heterogeneous reaction with surface Cl atom of CuCl2. ► The Hg(0) oxidation follows a Mars-Maessen mechanism with CuCl2 redox catalyst. ► CuCl2 can continue to oxidize Hg(0) vapor under very high SO2 concentrations.