Method for the removal and recovery of mercury

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:870805

Easterly, Clay E ^[1]; Vass, Arpad A ^[2]; Tyndall, Richard L ^[3]

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1. Knoxville, TN
2. Oak Ridge, TN
3. Clinton, TN

The present invention is an enhanced method for the removal and recovery of mercury from mercury-contaminated matrices. The method involves contacting a mercury-contaminated matrix with an aqueous dispersant solution derived from specific intra-amoebic isolates to release the mercury from the mercury-contaminated matrix and emulsify the mercury; then, contacting the matrix with an amalgamating metal from a metal source to amalgamate the mercury to the amalgamating metal; removing the metallic source from the mercury-contaminated matrix; and heating the metallic source to vaporize the mercury in a closed system to capture the mercury vapors.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5597729
• OSTI ID: 870805
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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removal
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mercury
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mercury-contaminated
matrices
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removing
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involves contacting
dispersant solution
method involves
mercury vapor
metal source
solution derived
specific intra-amoebic
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intra-amoebic isolates
intra-amoebic isolate
/435/588/