Abstract
The need for appropriate management of mercury (Hg) wastes is increasing for active implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Though Hg can be a contaminant if it is not dealt with properly, recovered Hg can become a resource. Besides, a recovered Hg with reduced volume can be managed efficiently. This study examined the effect of NaOH for the recovery of elemental Hg from a waste sludge from an industrial process using the thermal desorption and condensation. For this purpose, the operating conditions, including temperature and pressure of the apparatus, were derived based on the experiments using Hg compounds (HgS and HgO), simulated waste (mixtures of HgCl2/As2O3 and HgS/As2O3). The reduced chamber pressure promoted to the recovery of elemental Hg via the thermal desorption. NaOH was introduced to increase the recovery efficiency of Hg in the presence of interfering substances such as S and As compounds. The Hg recovery efficiency increased, and 62.5% of Hg was recovered as elemental form by adding NaOH via thermal desorption and gas condensation with a lab-scale apparatus. Interfering substances such as Cl, S, and As compounds were captured in the bottom ash when bound with Na.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 121291 |
Journal | Journal of Hazardous Materials |
Volume | 384 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 Feb 15 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research is supported by Korean Ministry of Environment for the project of “Advanced Technology Program for Environmental Industry ”. This work was also supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea (No. 20184030202240 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis