Disposal of Mercury

[Trond]

I am working with an oil company, and we have a problem with Mercury contamination of our products. We have a waste disposal specialist handling Mercury contaminated sludge, sand, pure Mercury, etc.

I was told that this sludge, etc is being treated by incinerating it. In my opinion, this just transfers the problem from one of solid/liquid waste to an atmospherc one.

Is this the correct way to treat this type of waste? I am not out to nail anybody here, I am just curious - and a little concerned!

Regards,

Trond

 

[mobjack]

Can the material be recycled by a company that extracts the mercury? Search "mercury recycling" to find some. These companies will also be able to evaluate the material to determine if indeed they can use it. We've found these to be a better way.

 

[rbcoulter]

Where is mercury waste generated process located?

 

[Trond]

Mobjack - I suppose it is possible to extract the mercury, some of it is even dropping out in pure form. But is there a market for mercury anywhere?

Rbcoulter - the mercury comes from the oil & gas wells, and drops out particularly in the gas compression/cooling part of the process.

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Keep 'em messages coming!

Trond

 

[rbcoulter]

Sorry. I meant the actual location. Which country, specifically?

 

[Trond]

rbcoulter,

This is a fairly sensitive issue, so I'd rather not be too specific. Let's just say it is in SE-Asia. Why?

 

[rbcoulter]

In the U.S., mercury waste is a hazardous waste, and the only treatment option allowed is retorting (recycling).

 

[Trond]

That is interesting. What do they do with the mercury once it has been recycled?

We had plans to reinject it into an abandoned reservoir, basically "return to source", but the goverment was against it, as they were worried about leakages - but these government "experts" don't really make sence even at their best. These are the same guys who worried about national seawater levels when we started water injection - seriously!

Still think the inceneration method I described above doesn't sound right.

 

[rbcoulter]

Well I suppose that the mercury just goes back on the market to those who need it (like fluorescent tube makers). BTW, retorting is an incineration process where the mercury is capture/condensed and recovered. So the mercury, in theory, is not lost to the air. If your current vendor is retorting the mercury ,then he is recovering it.