Method of removing mercury from mercury contaminated materials

A method of reducing mercury level in a mercury contaminated material comprising:

• (a) placing a carbon-free material in a microwave reactor;
• (b) placing the mercury contaminated material in the microwave reactor;
• (c) providing a stream of gas in the microwave reactor, the stream causing agitation of the mercury contaminated material and the carbon-free material so as to form a mixture;
• and
• (d) exposing the mercury contaminated material to microwave radiation so as to raise the temperature to at least 357° C., producing a vapour phase which contains mercury and a treated material.

A method of reducing mercury and carbon levels in a mercury contaminated material comprising:

• (a) placing the mercury contaminated material in a microwave reactor;
• (b) providing a stream of gas in the microwave reactor, the stream causing agitation of the mercury contaminated material;
• and
• (c) exposing the mercury contaminated material to microwave radiation so as to raise the temperature to at least 600° C., producing a vapour phase which contains mercury and a treated material.

A method of reducing mercury and carbon levels in a mercury contaminated material comprising:

• (a) placing a carbon-free material in a microwave reactor;
• (b) placing the mercury contaminated material in the microwave reactor;
• (c) providing a stream of gas in the microwave reactor, the stream causing agitation of the mercury contaminated material and the carbon-free material so as to form a mixture;
• and
• (d) exposing the mercury contaminated material to microwave radiation so as to raise the temperature to at least 600° C., producing a vapour phase which contains mercury and a treated material.