The recovery and recycle of mercury from chlor-alkali plant wastewater sludge

摘要

Universal Dynamics supported a research study at Montana Tech of the University of Montana to develop a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery and recycle of mercury from caustic plant wastewater sludge materals (U.S. EPA hazardous waste classification K106). The hydrometallurgical process is also applicable for the treatment of mercury contaminated soils (U.S. EPA hazardous waste classification D106) and other mercury bearing waste materials. The process is capable of lowering the mercury content in the K106 solids from 3-10percent Hg to <50 mg/kg (ppm). The treated solids pass the U.S. EPA Toxicity Characterization Leach Procedure (Hg<25 mu g/liter, ppb). The process has been commercialized and is presently being utilized at three U.S. Chlor-Alkali plants.