Fluorescent lamp having an attachment therein for reduction of soluble mercury in the lamp and to act as a fail-safe at the end of lamp life

摘要

A fluorescent lamp having an attachment mounted therein for reduction of soluble mercury contained in the lamp, and to act as a fail-safe at the end of lamp life, comprises a collar of iron mesh providing an iron surface area sufficiently large to reduce a portion of the soluble mercury to elemental mercury when the lamp is pulverized to granules and subjected to a suitable aqueous acid solution, such that a remaining portion of soluble mercury leachable is less than 0.2 milligram per liter of the aqueous acid solution, whereby to provide a substantially non-soluble mercury leachable lamp. The attachment is adapted for disposition around an electrode mount in the lamp and is electrically isolated from lead-in contacts in the mount, such that upon exhaustion of a cathode coating in the lamp, an electrical arc stream impinges on the attachment, causing the mount within the attachment to crack, whereby to provide for safe termination of operation of the lamp.