Process and solution for transforming insoluble mercury metal into a soluble compound

• US 5,238,488 A
• Filed: 03/26/1992
• Issued: 08/24/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Original Assignee: Gas Research Institute (GTI Energy)
• Inventors: Wilhelm, Stanley M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSENBERG, PETER
• Application Number:
  US07/858,126
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 75/742, 75/711
• US Class Current: 75/742
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 13/00 Compounds of mercury
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 333/16 Salts of dithiocarbamic acids

Abstract

A process and solution for transforming insoluble mercury metal into a soluble compound. The process includes oxidizing elemental mercury to form mercury cations, contacting the mercury cations with a complexing agent to form a soluble complex, and dissolving the soluble complex with a solvent. The solution contains an oxidizing agent, a complexing agent and a solvent.

Claims

1. A process for transforming insoluble mercury metal into a soluble mercury compound comprising:

(a) oxidizing elemental mercury with nitric acid to form mercury cations;

(b) contacting the mercury cations with an organic compound suitable for forming the soluble mercury compound; and

(c) dissolving the soluble mercury compound with a solvent.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the nitric acid, the organic compound and the solvent are contained in a single solution.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the mercury is removed from aluminum.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the nitric acid is approximately 0.1N.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the organic compound is selected from the group consisting of oxygen containing compounds, sulfur containing compounds, phosphorous containing compounds, nitrogen containing compounds and mixtures thereof.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the solvent is a mixture of methanol and water.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the solvent has a freezing point below -40°

F.

8. A solution for transforming insoluble mercury metal into a soluble mercury compound, the solution comprising:

nitric acid, a complexing agent selected from the group consisting of oxygen containing compounds, sulfur containing compounds, phosphorous containing compounds, nitrogen containing compounds and mixtures thereof, and a solvent.

9. A solution according to claim 8 wherein the nitric acid is approximately 0.1N.

10. A solution according to claim 8 wherein the complexing agent is selected from the group consisting of a thiol, a dithiocarbamic acid, a thiocarbamic acid, a thiocarbazone, a cryptate and mixtures thereof.

11. A solution according to claim 8 wherein the solvent is a mixture of methanol and water.

12. A solution according to claim 8 wherein the solvent has a freezing point below -40°

F.