Process and system for separating finely aerosolized elemental mercury from gaseous streams

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for separating droplets of finely aerosolized elemental mercury from a fluid stream in which the droplets are dispersed, particularly a gaseous stream. In the method, a precious metal wire capillary surface or precious metal-coated wire capillary surface is contacted with the gaseous stream, causing the aerosolized droplets to deposit on the capillary surface and by capillary action to coalesce with other of such droplets. The surface is oriented to allow the mercury to flow by gravitational forces and capillary action to the lowermost portions of the surface, where it accumulates and can be collected. Metallic capillary surfaces comprised of finely braided strands of silver, gold, palladium, platinum, or rhodium wire, or wire coated with one or more of these metals, are particularly preferred.

主权项

1. A method for separating droplets of finely aerosolized elemental mercury from a gaseous stream in which the droplets are dispersed, comprising:
contacting a metallic capillary surface with said gaseous stream, causing said droplets to deposit on said surface and by capillary action to coalesce with other of said droplets to form increasingly large drops of mercury, wherein the metallic capillary surface is comprised of braided strands of metal wire, the metal wire being made of a precious metal or a combination of precious metals, or the metal wire being made of a non-precious metal which is coated with a precious metal or a combination of precious metals; and wherein the said surface is oriented to allow the mercury drops to flow by gravitational forces and capillary action to the lowermost portion of said surface where it accumulates.