Patent · US Expired

Recovery of mercury from mercury compounds via electrolytic methods

US5024738A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
7References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 18, 1989
Grant dateJun 18, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC25C1/16
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for electrolytically recovering mercury from mercury compounds is provided. In one embodiment, Hg is recovered from Hg.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 employing as the electrolyte solution a mixture of HCl and H.sub.2 O. In another embodiment, Hg is electrolytically recovered from HgO wherein the electrolyte solution is comprised of glacial acetic acid and H.sub.2 O. Also provided is an apparatus for producing isotopically enriched mercury compounds in a reactor and then transporting the dissolved compounds into an electrolytic cell where mercury ions are electrolytically reduced and elemental mercury recovered from the mercury compounds.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.