People helping each other -- No AI, no cost, no reg'n, no damn popups
(As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner we earn from qualifying purchases)

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

Thread 221/36

Mercury disposal treatment

I have a customer posing a tricky pollution solution inquiry. They wanted to treat/dispose wastes from luminaire manufacturing. The wastes are mercury mixed with leaded-glass. Wastes are collected in plastic drum, but they are slowly accumulating in the storage area. Customer wanted to dispose of the wastes. Anybody out there with an idea how to dispose/treat/recycle this wastes, this is a very good business opportunity. Contact me so we can discuss what are the available options.

Peter e. de Dios
- Binan, Laguna, Philippines
2003
publicly reply to Peter e. de Dios

Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).

Q. My laboratory which I inherited has some old mercury left over from some previous researcher's work. Can you suggest any chemical reaction that can be used to make it safe enough to be thrown down the drain? Thanks, Vijaya

Vijaya Satchidanandam
- Bangalore, Karnataka, India
July 21, 2012
publicly reply to Vijaya Satchidanandam

A. Hi Vijaya,

I can't imagine that the Indian Environmental Department is going to be overly pleased with any attempt to dispose of a mercury containing substance "down the drain". All Mercury wastes must be treated as special waste and disposed of in line with Indian current environmental disposal legislation. Whatever you do, don't try to throw it down the drain!

Brian Terry
Aerospace - Yeovil, Somerset, UK
July 24, 2012
publicly reply to Brian Terry

A. Mercury metal is worth money. Some metal recycler should take it off your hands.

SMALL amounts of mercury can be stabilized by dusting with elemental sulfur ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil links] .

Or, if you are talking about a mercury waste, contact a waste hauler. There are techniques for removing mercury from wastewater, but I doubt you could attain the required discharge limit.

Dave Wichern
Consultant - The Bronx, New York
July 26, 2012
publicly reply to Dave Wichern

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: