Quick Change Compact Dental Amalgam Separator

A dental amalgam separator comprising:

• an cartridge housing configured to enclose a replaceable hollow cylindrical filter element in a substantially vertical orientation, with a space between the filter element and an interior wall of the housing;
• a removable upper external housing configured to seal against an upper portion of the cartridge housing, the upper external housing comprising one or more inlet ports in fluidic communication with an outside of the filter element;
• and
• a removable lower external housing configured to close against upper and lower portions of the cartridge housing via gaskets and in contact with the filter element, the lower external housing comprising an outlet port in fluidic communication with an inside of the filter element,
• wherein, in a region comprising the lower portion of the cartridge housing, the cartridge housing interior wall tapers inward such that, at a bottom of the filter element, practically no space exists between the cartridge housing and the filter element, thus minimizing void volume;
• and
• wherein the inlet and outlet ports are sized to fit conventional dental systems, and
• whereby application of suction to the outlet port draws fluid from the one or more inlet ports through the filter element and into the outlet port, thereby trapping suspended amalgam from the fluid in the filter element.