Mercury leaching from hazardous industrial wastes stabilized by sulfur polymer encapsulation

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 35; pp. 301 - 306
• Main Authors: López, Félix A., Alguacil, Francisco J., Rodríguez, Olga, Sierra, María José, Millán, Rocío
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Encapsulation; Encapsulation process; Hazardous; Hazardous Waste; Industrial Waste - analysis; International trade; Landfills; Leaching; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Mercury - analysis; Mercury - chemistry; Mercury Compounds - analysis; Mercury Compounds - chemistry; Sulfur Compounds - chemistry; Waste; Waste Disposal Facilities; Waste Management - methods; Wastes; Encapsulation process; Mercury; Waste; Leaching
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2014.10.009

•Encapsulation process followed fully stabilizes metallic mercury.•Materials obtained meet the requirements for storage in inert waste landfills.•Process could be used to render safe a wide range of mercury-containing wastes. European Directive 2013/39/EU records mercury as a priority hazardous substance. Regulation n° 2008/1102/EC banned the exportation of mercury and required the safe storage of any remaining mercury compounds. The present work describes the encapsulation of three wastes containing combinations of HgS, HgSe, HgCl2, HgO2, Hg3Se2Cl2, HgO and Hg0, according to patent of Spanish National Research Council WO2011/029970A2. The materials obtained were subjected to leaching tests according to standards UNE-EN-12457 and CEN/TS 14405:2004. The results are compared with the criteria established in the Council Decision 2003/33/EC for the acceptance of waste at landfills. The Hg concentrations of all leachates were <0.01mgHg/kg for a liquid/solid ratio of 10l/kg. All three encapsulated materials therefore meet the requirements for storage in inert waste landfills.