METHOD FOR DETOXIFICATION OF MERCURY-CONTAINING WASTE Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: nature-preservative technologies. SUBSTANCE: method that can be used for processing spent luminescent tubes, mercury thermometers, barometers, vacuum manometers, and other devices containing glass-enveloped mercury. Detoxification method consists in grinding mercurial waste in mixture with grinding medium and using sulfur to bind metallic mercury. Ferric chloride, calcium hydroxide, and sodium sulfide aqueous solutions are additionally used, all components being introduced in the following order: first mercury-containing waste is added to and ground in mixture of ferric chloride solution with cast iron balls and/or broken rock, after which calcium hydroxide is added, followed by sodium sulfide and then sulfur. For mercury content in waste 0.5%, components are used in following proportions, wt %: ferric chloride solution 2.5-3.0, cast iron balls and/or broken rock 45, calcium hydroxide solution 0.8-1.0, sodium sulfur solution 1.3-1.5, and elementary sulfur 0.4-0.5. EFFECT: increased mercury detoxification efficiency. 5 cl, 1 tbl