The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 05, 1994
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1992
Thomas E Weyand, Beaver Falls, PA (US);
Casimir J Koshinski, New Brighton, PA (US);
Pittsburgh Mineral and Environmental Technology, Inc., New Brighton, PA (US);
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for removing mercury from contaminated soils and industrial wastes are provided. The removed mercury may be recovered. A furnace vaporizes the mercury containing portion and the vapors are condensed. In one embodiment, an individual heating stage volatilizes water vapor and other volatile contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, with substantial vaporization of the mercury-containing portion, subsequently, a second temperature higher than the first is employed to vaporize the mercury containing portion. In one embodiment, a metallic salt reacts with sulfur in the material to form a stable solid sulfur compound to reduce sulfur content in the gaseous effluent. The addition of a metallic salt may also be employed to react with mercury halides to release elemental mercury therefrom. The contaminated material is thereby converted from one which is hazardous due to mercury contamination to one which is non-hazardous. The effluent is treated to reduce environmental hazards in the same. The system is preferably provided on or in a vehicle so as to facilitate treatment of the contaminated materials at the site of the same.