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TECHNICAL REPORT - ADVANCES IN ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MERCURY-CONTAMINATED HAZARDOUS WASTES
Citation:
Chattopadhyay, S. AND w. E. condit. TECHNICAL REPORT - ADVANCES IN ENCAPSULATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF MERCURY-CONTAMINATED HAZARDOUS WASTES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-02/081, 2002.
Description:
Although industrial and commercial uses of mercury have been curtailed in recent times, there is
a demonstrated need for the development of reliable hazardous waste management techniques
because of ongoing hazardous waste generation and historic operations that have led to
significant contamination. The focus of this article is on the current state of encapsulation
technologies and materials being used to immobilize elemental mercury, mercury-containing
debris, and other mercury-contaminated wastes, soils, or sludges. The range of encapsulation
materials used in bench-scale, pilot-scale, and full-scale applications for mercury-containing
wastes are summarized in this report. Several studies have been completed regarding the
application of sulfur polymer stabilization/solidification, chemically bonded phosphate ceramic
encapsulation, and polyethylene encapsulation. Other technologies or materials reported in the
literature or under development for encapsulation include asphalt, polyester resins, synthetic
elastomers, polysiloxane, sol-gels (e.g., polycerams), and DolocreteTM. The objective of these
encapsulation methods is primarily to physically immobilize hazardous wastes to prevent contact
with leaching agents such as water. These methods may also include a stabilization step to
chemically fix mercury into a highly insoluble form. Economic information relating to the use
of these materials is provided, along with available vendor information. Future technology
development and research needs are also discussed.