Hi All,
as most technicians agree, we don't want mercury thermometers around when the spirit ones are doing the job.
Other than breaking the mercury ones and adding to the mercury stock bottle, does anyone have any ideas as to what to do with them?
Cheers,
~Robyn
mercury thermometers
Clean Mercury Waste
Hi Robyn,
There is one technique I use to salvage our Mercury, and when you think of it this certainly does the environment o huge favour.
Considering you have these factors in consideration you can continue:
PPE - Lab Coat;
Operational Fume Cupboard;
Safety Glasses
Gloves.
What you can do is to initially collect the Mercury waste by collecting it in a HDPE or Glass Bottle. Glass would be better as there will be no Mercury absorption into the porous plastic.
Collect this in a container with double the quantity of Water to that of Mercury or enough water to sufficiently cover the Liquid Metal by 2 cm.
This will prevent vapour escaping via normal means when you open the bottle. A good technique to know?
Once you have a reputable amount say 50mL or more (needs a few thermometers for this) transfer the Mercury by pouring off the liquid Mercury absorbed water into a waste container. Then pour the Liquid Metal into a beaker containing 0.2M HNO[sub]3[/sub]. (DO THIS IN AN OPERATIONAL FUME CUPBOARD ONLY). NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!
Again there should be enough HNO[sub]3[/sub] to cover the Mercury by at least 2cm. (this allows for adequate coverage) Then allow 5 minutes to clean the Mercury.
After this gently swirl the two liquids so that the two liquids have totally come into contact then allow to stand.
Carefully pour off the liquid until there is a small amount of HNO[sub]3[/sub] left the rest I usually remove by soaking the rest of the acid in a tissue.
Use a dropper (Must be brand new and immerse it into the mercury until it has reached the centre of the metal and aspirate it and transfer it to a clean dry container.
Repeat the process until the mercury has almost been transferred and no more can be collected without aspirating any acid.
Close the lid on the container containing the Mercury, label it and store it as appropriately in the chem store.
This will give you Clean Dry, very shinny Mercury Metal.
Once this is complete add Concentrated HNO[sub]3[/sub] to the leftover metal and dissolve it and pour it into the Mercury waste container that you have, (or will need) and rinse, clean the beaker and you have a safe working amount of mercury ready for the applications you may have for it.
Keep in mind that, Mercury can be stored for quite a long time considering that there is water in with it to prevent the toxic vapours from escaping, and harming yourself.
Do not add water to the clean Mercury, just make sure the container has a well fitting lid.
Hoped this has helped.
Robb....
There is one technique I use to salvage our Mercury, and when you think of it this certainly does the environment o huge favour.
Considering you have these factors in consideration you can continue:
PPE - Lab Coat;
Operational Fume Cupboard;
Safety Glasses
Gloves.
What you can do is to initially collect the Mercury waste by collecting it in a HDPE or Glass Bottle. Glass would be better as there will be no Mercury absorption into the porous plastic.
Collect this in a container with double the quantity of Water to that of Mercury or enough water to sufficiently cover the Liquid Metal by 2 cm.
This will prevent vapour escaping via normal means when you open the bottle. A good technique to know?
Once you have a reputable amount say 50mL or more (needs a few thermometers for this) transfer the Mercury by pouring off the liquid Mercury absorbed water into a waste container. Then pour the Liquid Metal into a beaker containing 0.2M HNO[sub]3[/sub]. (DO THIS IN AN OPERATIONAL FUME CUPBOARD ONLY). NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!
Again there should be enough HNO[sub]3[/sub] to cover the Mercury by at least 2cm. (this allows for adequate coverage) Then allow 5 minutes to clean the Mercury.
After this gently swirl the two liquids so that the two liquids have totally come into contact then allow to stand.
Carefully pour off the liquid until there is a small amount of HNO[sub]3[/sub] left the rest I usually remove by soaking the rest of the acid in a tissue.
Use a dropper (Must be brand new and immerse it into the mercury until it has reached the centre of the metal and aspirate it and transfer it to a clean dry container.
Repeat the process until the mercury has almost been transferred and no more can be collected without aspirating any acid.
Close the lid on the container containing the Mercury, label it and store it as appropriately in the chem store.
This will give you Clean Dry, very shinny Mercury Metal.
Once this is complete add Concentrated HNO[sub]3[/sub] to the leftover metal and dissolve it and pour it into the Mercury waste container that you have, (or will need) and rinse, clean the beaker and you have a safe working amount of mercury ready for the applications you may have for it.
Keep in mind that, Mercury can be stored for quite a long time considering that there is water in with it to prevent the toxic vapours from escaping, and harming yourself.
Do not add water to the clean Mercury, just make sure the container has a well fitting lid.
Hoped this has helped.
Robb....
Dr Robert Crosdale. MRACI. NSS. NSSA. NASA.
Ph.D (Chem), Post Grad Ph.D (Physics), M.Ed, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Appl. Sc. (Chem)
Lake Munmorah High School.
University of New England.
University of New South Wales.
University of Newcastle.
To understand the Universe from our perspective, we need to look towards our own backyard first for answers.
** AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - SEMPER EXPLORO **
Ph.D (Chem), Post Grad Ph.D (Physics), M.Ed, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Appl. Sc. (Chem)
Lake Munmorah High School.
University of New England.
University of New South Wales.
University of Newcastle.
To understand the Universe from our perspective, we need to look towards our own backyard first for answers.
** AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - SEMPER EXPLORO **
