US3899404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of removing mercury from an aqueous solution
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-07
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1994-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of removing mercury from an aqueous solution containing the same, such as a waste water, including the steps of passing the solution through a bed of zinc or zinc-coated particles, amalgamating the mercury in the solution and the zinc metal of the particles by plating the mercury on the zinc in an electrochemical cell, and preferably then separating the mercury from the zinc or zinc-coated particles.
Inventors
- 👤 Marlowe L Iverson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:27
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25C; C25C1/00; C25C1/16; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/46; C02F1/461; C02F1/46104; C02F1/46109; C02F1/46114; C02F1/467; C02F1/4676; C02F1/4678; C02F2101/00; C02F2101/10; C02F2101/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of removing mercury from an aqueous solution containing the same comprising: passing an electrically conductive aqueous solution containing mercury through an electrochemical cell containing an anode and a cathode comprising a bed of particles having zinc surfaces, contacting said particles with a cathodically polarized collector, passing a direct current from said anode through said solution to said particles whereby the mercury is deposited upon and amalgamated with the zinc surfaces of said particles, and discharging said solution of reduced mercury content.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of removing mercury from an aqueous solution containing the same comprising: passing an electrically conductive aqueous solution containing mercury through an electrochemical cell containing an anode and a cathode comprising a bed of particles having zinc surfaces, contacting said particles with a cathodically polarized collector, passing a direct current from said anode through said solution to said particles whereby the mercury is deposited upon and amalgamated with the zinc surfaces of said particles, and discharging said solution of reduced mercury content.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said particles are particulate zinc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said particles are zinc-coated nonmetallic substrates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an applied voltage of from about 2 to 12 volts is maintained between said anode and said particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bed is intermittently fluidized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the mercury is recovered from said particles.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A METHOD OF REMOVING MERCURY FROM AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING THE SAME COMPRISING PASSING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING MERCURY THROUGH AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL CONTAINING AN ANODE AND A CATHODE COMPRISING A BED OF PARTICLES HAVING ZINC SURFACES, CONTACTING SAID PARTICLES WITH A CATHODICALLY POLARIZED COLLECTOR, PASSING A DIRECT CURRENT FROM SAID ANODE THROUGH SAID SOLUTION TO SAID PARTICLES WHEREBY THE MERCURY IS DEPOSITED UPON AND AMALGAMATED WITH THE ZINC SURFACES OF SAID PARTICLES, DISCHARGING SAID SOLUTION OF REDUCED MERCURY CONTENT, AND RECOVERING SAID MERCURY BY ELECTROLYTICALLY STRIPPNG TJE ZINC FROM THE AMALGAM WHEREBY THE MERCURY FORMS DROPLETS WHICH COALESCE AND ARE RECOVERED.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A METHOD OF REMOVING MERCURY FROM AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING THE SAME COMPRISING PASSING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE AQUEOUS SOLUTION CONTAINING MERCURY THROUGH AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL CONTAINING AN ANODE AND A CATHODE COMPRISING A BED OF PARTICLES HAVING ZINC SURFACES, CONTACTING SAID PARTICLES WITH A CATHODICALLY POLARIZED COLLECTOR, PASSING A DIRECT CURRENT FROM SAID ANODE THROUGH SAID SOLUTION TO SAID PARTICLES WHEREBY THE MERCURY IS DEPOSITED UPON AND AMALGAMATED WITH THE ZINC SURFACES OF SAID PARTICLES, DISCHARGING SAID SOLUTION OF REDUCED MERCURY CONTENT, AND RECOVERING SAID MERCURY BY ELECTROLYTICALLY STRIPPNG TJE ZINC FROM THE AMALGAM WHEREBY THE MERCURY FORMS DROPLETS WHICH COALESCE AND ARE RECOVERED.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said particles are particulate zinc.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said particles are zinc-coated nonmetallic substrates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein an applied voltage of from about 2 to 12 volts is maintained between said anode and said particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said bed is intermittently fluidized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |