Magnetic manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) with spinel structure has received considerable attention for its
potential application in gaseous pollutants removal because of its surface redox reactivity properties.
Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate heterogeneous mercury oxidation
Magnetic manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) with spinel structure has received considerable attention for its
potential application in gaseous pollutants removal because of its surface redox reactivity properties.
Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate heterogeneous mercury oxidation
by HCl over MnFe2O4 surface. The results indicate that Hg0 is chemically adsorbed on MnFe2O4
(1 0 0) surface with an adsorption energy of 60.82 kJ/mol. HCl can decompose on MnFe2O4 surface to
form active surface chlorine species for mercury oxidation. Both intermediate (HgCl) and final (HgCl2)
products are adsorbed on MnFe2O4 (1 0 0) surface in a dissociative adsorption manner. Hg0 oxidation
by HCl over MnFe2O4 surface follows the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism in which a bimolecular
reaction occurs between adsorbed Hg0 and active surface chlorine species. The mercury oxidation process
over MnFe2O4 surface was investigated by examining the energy profile of reaction pathway.
Heterogeneous Hg0 oxidation by HCl occurs through a two-step reaction pathway (Hg0 ? HgCl ?
HgCl2) in which the first step (Hg0 ? HgCl) is the rate-determining step.