Process for treating mercury in preparation for disposal
AssigneeEcoflo, Inc.
InventorJeffrey C. Woodward
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mercury is mixed with an inorganic powder resulting in a permanent bonding of the mercury to the powder in a solid form. Thereafter the amalgam may be easily, safely, and legally deposited in a landfill. Suggested powders include copper, zinc, nickel, and sulphur in a ratio of powder to mercury of substantially 3:1. The mixture is followed by compound agitation.
Claims7
Process for solidifying collected quantities of liquid metallic mercury preparatory to disposal in a solid waste landfill comprising the steps of mixing an inorganic powder consisting essentially of an element selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, zinc, and sulphur with said liquid metallic mercury in a ratio of powder to mercury of at least 1:1 by weight and subjecting the mixture to non-intrusive compound agitation for at least 5 minutes, wherein said inorganic powder is of a type having the characteristics of binding mercury thereto and whereby the combination of the inorganic powder and compound agitation solidifies the liquid metallic mercury.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.