METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THERMAL DEMERCURIZATION OF LUMINESCENT TUBES Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: hazardous waste disposal. SUBSTANCE: apparatus consists of chamber with heater, tube-opening appliance, mercury vapor collection container connected with vacuum pump, and low- temperature vacuum trap for mercury condensation. Hollow of the latter communicates with hollow of the mercury vapor collection container, upper wall of which has pockets for installing luminescent tubes provided with cutting facility, e.g. electric coil or cutting head to cut tube enclosure. Opened tubes are heated in vacuum to 85- 100 C: mercury evaporates from the opened tube end and then is condensed in low-temperature vacuum trap at -190 C. Mercury vapor concentration in container is controlled by concentration transducer and, when permissible level is attained, process is terminated and mercury is poured out from vacuum trap. Tubes are removed from the pockets and may be reutilized both for direct destination and for other purposes. EFFECT: facilitated mercury recovery. 4 cl, 2 dwg