Mercury is naturally occurring in the earth’s crust and released with volcanic activity. Industrial activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, ore processing, medical and municipal waste incineration, the use of dental amalgams, mercury switches and fluorescent light bulbs also contribute to the amount of mercury in the environment. The EPA and other agencies regulate the amount of mercury in air and water emissions, and also the amount allowed in materials requiring land disposal. The amount of mercury in ambient air is also regulated to ensure safe workplace exposure levels. Mercury in low concentrations within industrial waste can make it a regulated hazardous waste requiring documented transportation and disposal.

The EPA is focused on the reduction of mercury in consumer products, recycling of mercury wastes and also reducing emissions from industrial activities such as waste incineration, coal fired furnaces and Chlor-Alkali facilities that use mercury cells in the production of chlorine, caustic soda and related basic chemical products. The EPA indicates loss of sensory or cognitive ability, tremors, inability to walk, convulsions or possible death as the potential results of mercury exposure. Chronic exposure limits of 12 ppt in freshwater and 25 ppt in marine water (salt water) are acceptable under current guidelines from the EPA, however, specific industrial discharges may actually be required to be much lower than these concentrations.

As each industrial process with mercury discharge can have very specific site requirements and unique chemistry, Siemens is capable of evaluation to determine which solution offers the most efficient and economical treatment option to meet new discharge requirements. Through extensive testing Siemens has developed multiple methods for the pretreatment of waste streams, coupled with the use of targeted mercury-removal media and customized equipment for various applications. These treatment technologies have proven capable of reaching the new, stricter part per trillion (ppt) level discharge requirements for mercury; levels not achievable with other currently available technologies such as ion exchange, activated carbon and precipitation. These mercury reductions have been achieved for elemental, ionic and organo-mercury in both wastewaters with both dilute and concentrated ionic backgrounds.

A local Siemens Water Technologies Sales and Technical Support specialist can assist in determining the next step for handling your mercury removal needs.

Mercury Removal Technologies:

Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)