Objective The aim is to clarify the speciation and thermo-release characteristics of mercury in failure mercury adsorbent for natural gas containing metal sulfides.

Method The temperature programmed thermal release mercury experimental of mercury compound reference material, elemental mercury and failure mercury adsorbent were carried out in air atmosphere.

Results The thermal release peaks of different mercury compounds could be separated. The thermal release mercury peak temperatures of black mercury sulfide, red mercury sulfide, mercury oxide and mercury sulfate were about 290 ℃, 390 ℃, 505 ℃ and 620 ℃ respectively. The thermal release mercury peak of elemental mercury was exponential with the thermal release temperature. The form of mercury in the failure mercury adsorbent was black mercury sulfide, elemental mercury, red mercury sulfide, mercury oxide and mercury sulfate all were not shown. The starting temperature of thermal release mercury from the failure mercury adsorbent was about 160 ℃, and the ending temperature of thermal release mercury of black mercury sulfide and failure mercury adsorbent were both about 600 ℃.

Conclusions The failure mercury adsorbent would not decompose during unloading and transportation at room temperature, but it is necessary to avoid contracting with high temperature heat sources. The smelting temperature of cinnabar ore was generally 700-850 ℃, so the smelting temperature of cinnabar ore was also suitable for the removal of mercury in failure mercury adsorbent.