Extraction of Mercury Utilizing 3D Printed Media-Mercury Extraction Coalescer (MEC)
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
- Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC (United States)
This project was undertaken to address the concern of mercury species present in chemical reprocessing facilities and environmental remediation sites. Typical elemental mercury removal is performed by steam stripping. As efficient as this process is, the vaporized elemental mercury is often condensed along with acidic condensate. The acidic conditions re-dissolve the elemental mercury, transferring it back into the aqueous stream, and undoing the energy-intensive steam stripping process. This project looked to design and produce a 3D printed component to act as a mercury vapor/liquid coalescer utilizing structural and chemical features to segregate elemental mercury from an aqueous solution or process offgas and improving elemental mercury retention and removal from the recirculated condensate stream. The aim of this project is to take inspiration from nature, for example the lotus leaf, and the advantage of advanced manufacturing techniques, in this case 3D printing, to produce a functional solution to a serious environmental issue, the accumulation of elemental mercury in aqueous environments.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River National Lab. (SRNL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-08SR22470
- OSTI ID:
- 1569633
- Report Number(s):
- SRNL-STI-2019-00602; TRN: US2100491
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Extraction of Mercury Utilizing 3D Printed Media - Mercury Extraction Coalescer (MEC)
Extraction of Mercury Utilizing 3D Printed Media - Mercury Extraction Coalescer (MEC) (Revision 1)