Activated carbon (AC) injection has been regarded as one of the most effective control technologies for Hg0 removal in flue gas. It is worthwhile to explore new and simple preparation methods for AC with low cost and high Hg removal capacity. In this study, a biomass based AC was successfully prepared from levant cotton exocarp using ZnCl2 activation. The mercury adsorption efficiency and mechanism were studied via the fixed bed experiments. Activator, reaction temperature and components of simulated coal-fired flue gas were investigated. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM–EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were applied for morphology characterization of the prepared AC and discussion of the possible adsorption mechanism. The adsorbed mercury species and the physiochemical properties of prepared AC were discussed. The results showed that (1) Hg0 removal efficiency could reach up to 90% at 150 ℃ under simulated flue gas (SFG); (2) Hg0 adsorption was controlled by the combination of physical and chemical mechanisms.

Watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris L.) is a summer fruit typical to help fatigue systemic absorption is getting better. The goal of this study is to screen antioxidant activity to ensure the possibility as a functional material for exocarp of watermelon. Watermelon was extracted with 70% methanol, 70% ethanol, chloroform:methanol (CM, 2:1, v/v). Total phenol contents were 12.01 mg/g, 8.89 mg/g, 3.53 mg/g in the 70% methanol, 70% ethanol, CM, in that order, respectively. Total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), β-carotene bleaching assay were 70% methanol extract remarkably higher than the other extracts. And these results showed the same trend of total phenol content. From the above results shows that watermelon was effective on the antioxidative activity.