Mercury contamination extraction
Mercury is removed from contaminated waste by firstly applying a sulfur reagent to the waste. Mercury in the waste is then permitted to migrate to the reagent and is stabilized in a mercury sulfide compound. The stable compound may then be removed from the waste which itself remains in situ following mercury removal therefrom.
1. A mercury extractor comprising a porous container including reagent sulfur therein for removing mercury from waste contaminated therewith.
2. An extractor according to claim 1 in the form of a blanket having said reagent sulfur distributed in surface area across said blanket.
3. An extractor according to claim 1 in the form of a solid spike.
4. An extractor according to claim 1 in the form of a mesh bag.
5. An extractor according to claim 1 in the form of a hollow permeable tube.
6. An extractor according to claim 5 wherein said reagent sulfur comprises powder.
7. An extractor according to claim 1 wherein said reagent sulfur comprises granules.
8. An extractor according to claim 1 wherein said reagent sulfur comprises sulfur polymer cement.
9. A method of using said extractor according to claim 1 comprising:
applying said extractor to said contaminated waste;
migrating mercury through said waste to said extractor; and
stabilizing said migrated mercury with said reagent sulfur in a mercury sulfide compound inside said extractor.
10. A method according to claim 9 further comprising inserting said extractor inside said contaminated waste.
11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising removing said extractor from said waste after stabilizing mercury therein.
12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising leaving said extractor inside said waste for in situ stabilization of said mercury.