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Title: Identification of elemental mercury in the subsurface

Abstract

An apparatus and process is provided for detecting elemental mercury in soil. A sacrificial electrode of aluminum is inserted below ground to a desired location using direct-push/cone-penetrometer based equipment. The insertion process removes any oxides or previously found mercury from the electrode surface. Any mercury present adjacent the electrode can be detected using a voltmeter which indicates the presence or absence of mercury. Upon repositioning the electrode within the soil, a fresh surface of the aluminum electrode is created allowing additional new measurements.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1167022
Patent Number(s):
8928325
Application Number:
13/314,348
Assignee:
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (Aiken, SC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC09-08SR22470
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Dec 08
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; 58 GEOSCIENCES

Citation Formats

Jackson, Dennis G. Identification of elemental mercury in the subsurface. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
Jackson, Dennis G. Identification of elemental mercury in the subsurface. United States.
Jackson, Dennis G. Tue . "Identification of elemental mercury in the subsurface". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1167022.
@article{osti_1167022,
title = {Identification of elemental mercury in the subsurface},
author = {Jackson, Dennis G},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and process is provided for detecting elemental mercury in soil. A sacrificial electrode of aluminum is inserted below ground to a desired location using direct-push/cone-penetrometer based equipment. The insertion process removes any oxides or previously found mercury from the electrode surface. Any mercury present adjacent the electrode can be detected using a voltmeter which indicates the presence or absence of mercury. Upon repositioning the electrode within the soil, a fresh surface of the aluminum electrode is created allowing additional new measurements.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {1}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Voluminous oxidation of aluminium by continuous dissolution in a wetting mercury film
journal, September 1972


Rheological penetrometer
patent, January 1985


Standoff laser induced-breakdown spectroscopy penetrometer system
patent, May 1998


Standoff laser induced-breakdown spectroscopy penetrometer system
patent, May 1998


Soil sampler
patent, July 1999


Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy soil contamination probe
patent, November 2000


Soil remediation of mercury contamination
patent, November 2005


In-situ soil nitrate ion concentration sensor
patent, May 2013