Method of treating mercury containing glass instruments to retrieve mercury

摘要

The method is carried out in stages, the instruments are first cooled in a bath to a temperature below minus 38.9 degrees C. This is followed by the separation of the instrument components which contain mercury from those with no mercury content. This is also carried out in a bath at the same low temp..The solid mercury is then separated by breaking the glass. The glass and solid mercury are stirred in a liquid also at a temp. below minus 38.9 degrees C, after which there is a mechanical separation of glass and solid mercury. The fluid is drained off and returned for re-use.