Technology Commercialization and Partnerships | BSA 08-24: In-Situ Mercury Stabilization

BSA 08-24: In-Situ Mercury Stabilization

BNL Reference Number: BSA 08-24

Patent Status: U.S. Patent Number 7,589,248 was issued on September 15, 2009

Summary

In Situ Mercury Stabilization (ISMS) is a method that can remove toxic mercury from soil, sediment, sludge, and other industrial waste.

Description

In Situ Mercury Stabilization (ISMS) includes a device and method for remediation of mercury contamination in which mercury is first concentrated by inserting rods of sulfur reagent into the waste. Mercury is drawn to specially designed treatment rods, which induces the mercury in the waste to migrate to the rods and react with the sulfur reagent. When a series of rods is placed in the mercury-contaminated soil or other waste material, the mercury migrates to the rods and reacts with the sulfur reagent to form a mercury sulfide compound. The rod, which contains the stable, insoluble compound, can then be removed for safe disposal at a hazardous waste facility without having to dig up large volumes of soil or waste material.

Benefits

In cases where large areas are contaminated with levels of mercury that are not extremely high, current mercury-extraction methods are expensive and impractical for removing mercury. In Situ Mercury Stabilization (ISMS) can remove mercury without excavation and replacement of large volumes of toxic soil or other waste material, reducing both cost and environmental impact.

Applications and Industries

Industries and consulting firms involved in mercury cleanup will find immediate use of the ISMS process. Since mercury contamination is widespread throughout the world, the potential market for the ISMS remediation technology is worth hundreds of millions to tens of billions of dollars in potential economic activity and benefits. ISMS would be useful for remediation in numerous industrial sites around the world, for example, those that use the chloralkali process, important for making substances for manufacturing chemicals, soap, glass and paper among numerous other products. Also, mercury is used in the production of fluorescent lights, thermometers, batteries, and electrical switches, all in amounts that may necessitate cleanup.