Mercury Patents (Class 210/914)
  • Patent number: 4599177
    Abstract: A process for the removal and recovery of mercury and, if desired, other heavy metals from incinerator waste water produced by washing waste gases from incinerators, which comprises adding to the waste water a reducing agent or a combination of oxidizing and reducing agents, subjecting the thus added waste water to stripping treatment in the presence of ferrous ion to obtain a mercury vapor-containing gas and simultaneously form spinel type crystalline compounds and then cooling said gas to separate and recover the mercury. If desired, said spinel type crystalline compounds are also removed from the mercury-free waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Seitetsu Kagaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Saburo Hayashi, Mitsukazu Mukai, Masahiro Inoue, Hiroo Tsuchiya, Akira Otsuji, Takeo Tanabe
  • Patent number: 4592843
    Abstract: Organometallic compounds, such as 10, 10'-oxybisphenoxarsine, are removed from aqueous media by preferential absorption onto solid polyamide absorbents, such as Nylon, in the form of pellets, fibers, granules, film or coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Morton Thiokol, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Guilbault, Thomas C. McEntee
  • Patent number: 4578195
    Abstract: An improved process for treating aqueous effluents and purge streams to selectively remove polluting elements such as iron, copper, lead and mercury therefrom is described. The procedure comprises contacting the effluent with a poly(dithiocarbamate) chelating agent whereby the polluting elements are absorbed. The resin is extracted with an acidic aqueous solution having a pH of from about 4 to about 6; and removing the resin. When this is done, the residual content of these polluting elements in the effluent is reduced to a level below EPA required levels so that the effluent can safely be discharged into the surrounding ecosystem. The poly(dithiocarbamate) resin containing the polluting elements can be disposed of, for example, by being deposited in an unsecured landfill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1986
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Sanders H. Moore, Maurice R. Smith, Harvey B. Cochran
  • Patent number: 4566975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying aqueous solutions containing at least one impurity element from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, mercury and other heavy metals and solid matter by precipitation in at least two stages with the aid of precipitation reagents possessing ions capable of forming not-readily dissolved hydroxide precipitate. In accordance with the invention the main part of the precipitation reagent is introduced to the stage or stages following the first stage. The impurity element-containing precipitate formed in the aqueous solution subsequent to adding the reagent is separated therefrom substantially completely, and is returned so as to be present in the first precipitation stage, while that part of the solution which has been freed from precipitate in a later stage is withdrawn from the system. Substantially all the impurity element amount present in the ingoing aqueous solution are separated therefrom in the form of a sludge prior to the second precipitation stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Boliden Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Torkel Allgulin
  • Patent number: 4534944
    Abstract: A composition to absorb mercury vapor and suppress the formation of the vapor. The composition comprises a carrier liquid, for example water, an alcohol or glycol, copper ions, for example copper sulphate and thiosulphate ions, for example sodium thiosulphate. The absorbent is efficient and clean in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Environmental Protection Systems, Limited
    Inventor: Richard H. Roydhouse
  • Patent number: 4435284
    Abstract: A process for removing residual mercury from scrap fluorescent lamp exhaust tubulation or similar scrap glass is disclosed. A very small predetermined amount of finely divided silica or alumina powder is added to the mercury contaminated scrap glass and the mixture is agitated for a very short predetermined time during which the mercury is stripped from the tubulation. The separated mercury, powder and glass mixture is then decanted through a screen of suitable mesh to remove the separated mercury and powder from the glass and the mercury is then rinsed with a suitable solvent to remove the oxide powder from the mercury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: North American Philips Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Herman R. Heytmeijer
  • Patent number: 4422943
    Abstract: A method for the removal of heavy metal ions from an aqueous solution which comprises the steps of admixing an aqueous slurry of FeS.sub.2 with a heavy metal ion bearing aqueous solution at a pH above 7, preferably 8-12, the slurry providing at least the stoichiometric amount of FeS.sub.2, preferably 2 to 6 times the stoichiometric amount of FeS.sub.2, for precipitating the heavy metal ions from the solution as sulfides and separating the precipitated sulfides from the aqueous solution. Desirably, a portion of the heavy metal ions are precipitated from the solution as heavy metal hydroxides and the precipitated hydroxides are separated from the solution prior to admixing the solution with the FeS.sub.2 slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Environmental Resources Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Fender, Alan S. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 4404105
    Abstract: Process for the irreversible treatment of toxic waste by means of a silicate, in the presence of water, in such a way as to form a solid aggregate includes treatment of the silicate in an acid medium, for the purpose of obtaining silicic acid of low molecular weight; mixing the silicic acid with the waste to be treated, in the presence of water and controlling the pH between 0 and 4 in a sufficiently acid medium to cause the waste to undergo at least partial solution; precipitation of a gel of high molecular weight from the resultant aqueous mixture; addition thereto of a mixture which reacts with the gel of high molecular weight to form a silicate, possibly in the presence of a cementation agent, in such a way as to produce a sludge, and the hardening of the sludge into a solid aggregate which can not be changed physically so as to release again the harmful or toxic waste into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Societe Internationale de Publicite et d'Agences Commerciales
    Inventors: Serge H. Rysman de Lockerente, Norbert Van de Voorde
  • Patent number: 4392962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating seminoble and/or noble metals from an aqueous solution having compounds of these metals dissolved therein by subjecting the solution to reaction with red phosphorus. More particularly, the solution is conveyed through a zone containing a layer of granular red phosphorus particles with a size of 0.01 to 10 mm, which may be used in admixture with active carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Lehr, Gero Heymer, Christian May, Hermann Klein
  • Patent number: 4377483
    Abstract: A powder of a slag formed at the time of manufacturing steel is used to remove heavy metals contained in waste water. After the use the slag may be heated to recover the heavy metals adsorbed thereby or the used slag may be formed into solid blocks, ballast or aggregate by admixing with Portland cement or alumina cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kasane Yamashita, Takao Ikehata, Kazuhiko Tate, Keisuke Nakahara
  • Patent number: 4354942
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kaczur, James C. Tyler, Jr., John J. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4338288
    Abstract: This invention provides a sorbent composition, manganese nodules with occluded sulfur, effective for removing metal contaminants from gases or liquids. It is effective for removing lead contaminant from gasoline and mercury from water or natural gas. It may be used in the chlor-alkali process for cleaning by-product hydrogen. The sorbent also may be used for recovering valuable metals, for example from mine seepage waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Louis D. Rollmann
  • Patent number: 4333913
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying aqueous solutions of metal hydroxides.An aqueous solution of a metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide, containing a complex of a heavy metal contaminant, such as mercury, is heated.An oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, is reacted with the solution to precipitate solid particles of an oxide of the heavy metal, for example, mercuric oxide, in a solution. The solid particles of mercuric oxide are separated from the solution by filtration.The purified solution comprised of water and sodium hydroxide and containing less than about 0.3 part per million mercury by weight is sold commercially. The solid particles of mercuric oxide are landfilled or otherwise utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Dotson, Edward P. Carr
  • Patent number: 4292181
    Abstract: In a liquid membrane process for removing ions from solution which comprises contacting a feed solution containing a first ion with an emulsion, said emulsion comprising an external phase which is immiscible with said solution and contains a complexing agent, said complexing agent being capable of forming a first complex with said first ion, which is soluble in said external phase, and an internal phase, the improvement which comprises providing a second ion, in the internal phase, of the emulsion, said second ion being capable of converting said first complex to a second complex by replacing said first ion in said first complex, said second complex being also soluble in said external phase, whereby the first ion diffuses from said solution into said internal phase, and said second ion diffuses from said internal phase into said solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Norman N. Li, Robert P. Cahn, Adam L. Shrier
  • Patent number: 4260494
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for purifying aqueous solutions of metal hydroxides.An aqueous solution of a metal hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide, containing a complex of a heavy metal contaminant, such as mercury, is heated.An oxidizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, is reacted with the solution to precipitate solid particles of an oxide of the heavy metal, for example, mercuric oxide, in a solution. The solid particles of mercuric oxide are separated from the solution by filtration.The purified solution comprised of water and sodium hydroxide and containing less than about 0.3 part per million mercury by weight is sold commercially. The solid particles of mercuric oxide are landfilled or otherwise utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Dotson, Edward P. Carr