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Title: Identification of elemental mercury in the subsurface

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1167022

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.

Research Organization:
Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-08SR22470
Assignee:
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC (Aiken, SC)
Patent Number(s):
8,928,325
Application Number:
13/314,348
OSTI ID:
1167022
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Dec 08
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (10)

Voluminous oxidation of aluminium by continuous dissolution in a wetting mercury film journal September 1972
Rheological penetrometer patent January 1985
Method for detecting mercury amalgamation of aluminum patent December 1992
Standoff laser induced-breakdown spectroscopy penetrometer system patent May 1998
Sensor and method for detecting trace underground energetic materials patent June 1998
In situ oxidation reduction potential measurement of soils and ground water patent August 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