Behavior of mercury release from iron ores during temperature-programmed heat treatment in air

The behavior of Hg release from iron ores during temperature-programmed heat treatment (TPHT) in air is studied, primarily using an online monitoring method. The Hg release behavior during TPHT depends significantly on the type of ore being processed, involving the evolved forms, Hg⁰ and Hg²⁺, and those that remain thermally stable up to 950 °C. Furthermore, TPHT experiments for model Hg compounds suggest the presence of several types of Hg forms (HgCl₂, Hg₂Cl₂, HgS, HgO, HgSO₄, and associated mineral Hg) in the considered iron ores. The findings of this study provide insights for designing an efficient method for the removal of Hg from iron ore and gaseous Hg.