Recycling of wastes containing mercuryMercury is still a useful
raw material, used in many areas of life. Our companys main aim is
the recovery of elemental mercury and the avoidance of mercury
emissions. The collection and acquisition of these wastes enables
us to process them in an environmentally safe manner by applying
our modern technologies. Examples of mercury-containing
wastes:Switches, thermometers, rectifiers, manometers,
ion-exchangers, mercury-containing sludges, filter cakes, filter
residues, decomposer graphite, wastewater filter sludge,
construction and demolition wastes, filter candles. These waste
types are exclusively transported and warehoused in approved
containers, for example, plastic barrels, steel drums, big-bags.
EWC* Type of waste (EWC = European Waste Code)060404 - Wastes
containing mercury050701 - Wastes containing mercury We use three
methods to process the waste types mentioned above: 1. Manual
recovery construction parts, devices 2. Vacuum-Dry-Mixer sludges
containing mercury, filter cakes 3. Revolving-Kiln-Distillation dry
wastes The plants are approved by the District Government of
Dsseldorf, Germany, in accordance with the Federal Immission
Control Act (Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz). Our Technologies1.
Crush-Wash-Sieve-SystemFluorescent tubes and broken glass from
special lamps (CFL) are fragmented without prior sorting, washed
and separated according to various materials. The capacity of the
plant is at 2 tons per hour and is operated in three shifts. 2.
Revolving-Kiln-DistillationContinuous, indirectly heated
distillation technique for bulk materials. A process with ideal
heat transfer, processing temperatures of up to 800C and a
throughput capacity of 0.2 to 1.0 tons per hour. 3.
Vacuum-Dry-MixerFor drying and distillation of mercury-containing
sludges, in particular for sludges with a high organic content or
hydrocarbons. The mixing process aids liquid separation and
optimises energy efficiency. 4. High-purity distillationVacuum
distillation to recover high-purity mercury up to 99.999999
percent. Packed and shipped in custom-made containers up to one
ton.
High-purity distillationThe mercury recovered from various
processes is further cleaned by our vacuum high-purity distillation
to produce defined purity grades. Low boiling temperatures are
possible due to distillation at deep vacuum, permitting a high
purity grade to be achieved in each distillation step. Depending on
the given application purpose, purities of 5N to 8N quality are
produced in this plant.High-purity distillation High-purity
distillation High-purity distillation
Vacuum-Dry-MixerThe indirectly heated Vacuum-Dry-Mixer is used
for an efficient processing of mercury-containing sludges.
Permanent mixing of the sludges enables an optimum energy yield and
a maximum evaporation of water. Operation proceeds in two steps.
Water and, if present, hydrocarbons evaporate in the first
processing step. In the second step, mercury is recovered by
applying the maximum vacuum. The dryer processes approximately 0.5
to 1.0 tons per hour.
Vacuum-Dry-Mixer
Revolving-Kiln-DistillationThe waste materials are steadily
loaded into the Revolving-Kiln over an application hopper and a
dosage system. The plant is kept in operation 24 hour a day and
works with a capacity of 0.2 to 1.0 tons per hour. The
Revolving-Kiln is indirectly heated in four heating zones by means
of gas-burners, and the wastes are processed at maximum
temperatures of 800C. The materials are conveyed at a consistent
pace through the Revolving-Kiln by the rotary motion of the plant,
heating the wastes above 356C evaporates the mercury residing in
the waste material. Keeping the waste in motion enables especially
good heat conduction and rapid evaporation of the mercury. The
required process time of the wastes inside the Revolving-Kiln
depends on the initial materials and usually ranges from 0.5 to 1.5
hours. Processing is done under vacuum conditions so that no
hazardous emissions occur. If necessary, nitrogen can be introduced
into the process to produce inert atmosphere in the kiln. The
exhaust-air flow is led through a hot-gas dust filter and two gas
scrubbers, in which the mercury condenses. The exhaust air thus
cleaned is finally conducted through an activated charcoal
filtration system.
Revolving Kiln Distillation Revolving Kiln Distillation
Revolving Kiln Distillation Broken glass washing processFluorescent
lighting tubes and special lamp units consist of glass, metals,
fluorescent powder and small quantities of mercury. Our task is the
forward-looking appropriate recovery of these raw materials in a
manner complying with the product specifications of our customers.
The DELA broken glass washing process is at present the only
technology permitting an environmentally friendly and
form-independent exploitation of currently approx. 10 000 tonnes of
old lamps annually, including mechanically intact lamps, broken
lamps and lamp production waste material. The fluorescent lighting
tubes are brought directly from the collecting containers (boxes,
rung pallets, grid boxes) into the crushing unit which breaks them
down to broken glass of convenient piece size. Alternatively,
already pre-crushed lamps are delivered in big bags and fed into
the same process. The fluorescent material is cleaned off the
broken lamps with water in a vibration basin. The fluorescent
material and the mercury sediment in an inclined clarifier and the
water is purified for return to the washing process circulation.
The produced fluorescent powder slurry is distilled in our rotating
tube and the mercury is recovered. Special screening processes
separate the material flow of the washed crushed glass and metals
into soda-lime glass, lead glass and end caps. The soda-lime glass
is dried and then fed via an optical recognition system for quality
assurance. The processed soda-lime glass is used for the production
of new fluorescent lighting tubes and the metals are utilised as
secondary raw materials. The special lamp units are broken down in
a separate crusher and then fed to the broken glass washing process
separated from the fluorescent lighting tubes.
Broken glass washing process Broken glass washing process Broken
glass washing process
