Mark Gregory Edlund

US Patent:

6416567, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Mar 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/820490

Inventors:

Mark G. Edlund - Lake Elmo MN
James R. Cornwell - Muskego WI
Steven A. Rush - Burlington WI

Assignee:

Mercury Waste Solutions, Inc. - Mankato MN

International Classification:

C22B 4300

US Classification:

75670, 260148

Abstract:

Mercury is efficiently and effectively removed from waste materials by a process and apparatus which heats waste containing mercury to temperatures well above the boiling point of mercury to create a vapor stream laden with mercury vapor. This vapor stream is first cooled to a temperature at least 100Â F. above the boiling point of mercury, which allows some condensation of impure mercury with other materials, and creates a second vapor stream comprising mercury. This second vapor stream is then cooled to a temperature below the boiling point of mercury to condense more pure condensates of mercury. A third cooling step optionally may then be used to cool the remaining vapor stream to temperatures below the boiling point of mercury to remove further mercury content from the vapor stream. Filters and/or scrubbers may be added to remove trace amounts of mercury from the effluent vapor stream.