Stabilization of mercury in mercury-containing materials
US4354942A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 26, 1980 |
| Grant date | Oct 19, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 26, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S210/914
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process for stabilizing in situ soluble mercury in deposits of mercury-containing materials which comprises treating the deposits with a stabilizing amount of an inorganic sulfur compound. Suitable inorganic sulfur compounds include sulfides, alkali metal thiosulfates, alkaline earth metal thiosulfates, iron thiosulfates, alkali metal dithionites, and alkaline earth metal dithionites. These inorganic sulfur compounds react with soluble mercury to convert it to insoluble mercury compounds and substantially inhibit its removal by elution with water from the deposits of mercury-containing material. The process may be used to treat land areas, landfill deposits, or submarine sediment deposits to reduce soluble mercury concentrations to a few parts per billion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.