Elemental mercury (Hg0) in coal-fired flue gas has become a focal yet challenging issue in mercury pollution control due to its high toxicity, bioaccumulation potential, and high volatility. There is an urgent need to develop a technology of Hg0 catalytic oxidation that is both low-cost and highly efficient. On the other hand, waste fluid catalytic cracking (WFCC) catalysts generated from the petroleum refining industry are classified as hazardous solid waste, necessitating effective harmless disposal and resource recovery. Herein, a composite support (A-P) was constructed by combining an activated WFCC catalyst (AFCC) with the natural mineral palygorskite, followed by the loading of VOx active species to prepare a Vx/A-P catalyst for Hg0 removal from flue gas. Moreover, the effects of the preparation process and conditions of the Vx/A-P catalyst on the Hg0 removal performance were systematically studied. This work aims to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the development of low-cost, high-performance mercury removal catalysts, while also promoting the green recycling and value-added utilization of waste catalysts.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.