Study on exposing supported copper compounds to acetylene

Copper acetylide is used to describe copper and acetylene containing compounds. Depending on the valence of copper involved in reaction with acetylene, cuprous acetylide is formed from cuprous ion (Cu+) while cupric acetylide is formed from cupric ion (Cu2+). This study addresses the use of copper materials for removal of mercury and the potential for accidental accumulation of copper acetylides in the process. Alumina supports with copper oxide, copper carbonate or copper sulfide were exposed to acetylene and a variety of analytical techniques used to evaluate their potential for accumulation of copper acetylides. Copper oxide and copper carbonate exposed to acetylene did not demonstrate accumulation of either cuprous or cupric acetylides. However, resulting accumulated materials were energetic as they decomposed with release of heat during Differential Scanning Calorimeter analysis. The exothermic event was not excessive and it was speculated that the reaction involved copper oxide and carbon at elevated temperature. There was no apparent reaction between copper sulfide and acetylene. The condition for exposure of acetylene to the copper materials in this study was extreme. It concludes that when the copper materials are used for mercury recovery there is no apparent accumulation of copper acetylides.