Recovery of mercury from mercury compounds via electrolytic methods

Patent · Tue Jun 18 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:7084471

Grossman, M W; George, W A

A process for electrolytically recovering mercury from mercury compounds is provided. In one embodiment, Hg is recovered from Hg[sub 2]Cl[sub 2] employing as the electrolyte solution a mixture of HCl and H[sub 2]O. In another embodiment, Hg is electrolytically recovered from HgO wherein the electrolyte solution is comprised of glacial acetic acid and H[sub 2]O. Also provided is an apparatus for producing isotopically enriched mercury compounds in a reactor and then transporting the dissolved compounds into an electrolytic cell where mercury ions are electrolytically reduced and elemental mercury recovered from the mercury compounds. 3 figures.

• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• Assignee: GTE Products Corporation, Danvers, MA (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5024738
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-395867
• OSTI ID: 7084471
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
400202* -- Isotope Effects
Isotope Exchange
& Isotope Separation
CHALCOGENIDES
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
ISOTOPES
LYSIS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MERCURY
MERCURY CHLORIDES
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
MERCURY ISOTOPES
MERCURY OXIDES
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING