A density functional theory study of the adsorption of Hg and HgCl2 on a CaO(001) surface

Abstract

The adsorption of mercury and mercury chloride on a CaO(001) surface was investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) by using Ca₉O₉ cluster embedded in an electrostatic field represented by 178 point charges at the crystal CaO lattice positions. For the mercury molecular axis normal to the surface, the mercury can only coordinate to the O^2- anion and has a very weak binding energy of 19.649 kJ/mol. When the mercury chloride molecular axis is vertical to the surface, the Cl atom coordinates to the Ca²⁺ cation and has a binding energy of 23.699 kJ/mol. When the mercury chloride molecular axis is parallel to the surface, the Hg atom coordinates to the O^2- anion and has a binding energy of 87.829 kJ/mol, which means that the parallel geometry is more stable than the vertical one. The present calculations show that CaO injection could substantially reduce gaseous mercury chloride, but have no apparent effect on the mercury, which is compatible with the available experimental results. This research will provide valuable information for optimizing and selecting a sorbent for the trace element in flue gas.

Keywords

mercury, mercury chloride, calcium oxide, adsorption, density functional theory, coal combustion