Mercury – ADDITIONAL SERVICES
– Collection, transport and storage of waste products containing mercury due to a positive list.
– Environmentally friendly vacuum thermal recycling of used mercury and various waste products containing mercury.
– Vacuum-thermal treatment and immobilisation of naturally radioactive sludges and mercury residues.
– Production of precious metal concentrates from selected waste and residues containing precious metals.
– Production of pure and purest mercury by oxygen refining and high vacuum distillation.
– Supply of high and highest quality mercury.
Additional service
– Advice on the management of waste products.
– Preparation and implementation of notifications.
– Provision of approved transport and storage containers.
– On-site pick-up service with company vehicles.
– Assistance in the event of damage or accidents involving mercury.
TREATMENT OF MERCURY—DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS
The vacuum-thermal demercurization
A closed housing is required for the charging operation of the vacuum thermal process of demercurisation. After condensation at lower temperatures and evaporation at temperatures between 340°C and 650°C under very low pressure, the mercury contained in the waste is recovered in its raw form.
In a combustion chamber with a lot of oxygen, the organic substances are correspondingly oxidized at temperatures between 800°C and 1000°C.
The residue left after the vacuum thermal process is essentially mercury-free and, depending on its composition, is either recycled or disposed of safely.
The recovered raw mercury then undergoes a multi-stage purification process to achieve the best quality before it is sold.
New special technology for sludge treatment
In 2002 Roteschemie inaugurated a newly built vacuum recycling plant for the demercurisation of waste containing mercury and naturally radioactive sludge from the natural gas sector.
In this plant, this waste is treated dust-free throughout the process. It can also be operated by customers on site as it was built to be mobile. The plant has a loading capacity of approx. 1 t/d and works in this mode. Thermal oil, which is heated to a maximum temperature of 340 °C, is used as the heating medium for the demercurization process, which takes place in a vacuum-tight, double-walled mixer.
A highly efficient vapor filter is used to separate the dust. Fractional distillation allows water to be recovered separately from contaminated samples (including hydrocarbons or mercury).
The demercurized residue is then cooled or otherwise treated in a separate cooling mixer vacuum connected to the heating mixer. A discharge screw is used to remove the mineral residues. The vigorous mixing during the distillation ensures an ideal exchange of energy and offers quick, energy-saving processes.
MONITORING – CHEMICAL/ANALYTIC LABORATORY
The company has a state-of-the-art, fully-equipped chemical and analytical analysis laboratory, which performs both qualitative and quantitative analysis of components in solution and solids. The evaluation of the entire manufacturing process as well as the analytical evaluation of both the raw materials and the product materials is the responsibility of six experienced graduate chemists and two assistants.
In detail this means:
– Comprehensive control at the entrance of all waste materials,
– Analysis of the residual mercury content in demercurized products before delivery to companies for recycling / disposal,
– Analysis of precious metal concentrates from the demercurization of dental amalgam or button cells containing precious metals,
– Delivery of certified analyzes for the pure and ultra-pure mercury produced.
In addition, the laboratory staff is responsible for monitoring the company's environmental data and ensuring compliance with the specified parameters.
Recycling/disposal of waste products containing mercury, for example:
– Combination metal / mercury.
Steel rectifiers, ring scales, water level indicators, steam flow indicators
Vapor flow meters, igniters, remote thermometers, button cells, batteries, scrap metal containing mercury.
– Combination glass / mercury.
thermometers, barometers, electric relays, switches, pressure gauges, sphygmomanometers, transmission valves,
Diffusion pumps, glass rectifiers, high-pressure lamps, fluorescent tubes, pump handles from lamp production, broken glass
– Combination plastic / paper / mercury.
Absorption materials, filter papers, protective clothing, equipment
– Residues and waste from production processes.
Excess amalgam, amalgam slurries due to precipitation, powdered alloys and residues containing amalgam
Battery production processes, catalysts
– Excavated soil, soil, sludge and dust.
(with and without natural radioactivity), sediments, filter residues, rubble
– Consumed mercury.
(dirty, oil contaminated)
Contact
- Neuengamme Hamburg, Germany
- +49 1551 0538 322
- verkauf@roteschemies.de