Mercury Spills: The Vacuum Cleaner Solution
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WP
Recently, several articles appeared in rhtc Journol, dealing with the recovery of mercury spills In our laboratory, have been working for some yema with several different mercury manumeters and from time to time, with spilled
The major prohlem is t o collect i t from the junctions between the tiles of the floor or of the bench. An efficient method, compatible with the subsequent purification of this expensive element consists of sucking i t up by means of a filter pump. About 5 m of vacuum tubing is connected hetween the pump and a trap, itself attached t o 1 m of flexible plastie tube (polypropylene, for example/ ending in the suction devke. This part consists of a length of glass or metal tuhe (inner diameter = 5 mm) flattened to ohtain a small aoerture of about 0.5 X 5 mm. this size deoendine on the power of the pump. Larger dimensions tend to decrease the efficiency of the suction, smaller cause rapid clogging (unclogging is easy with a steel pin). The trap is held in one hand, the other sweeping the area to be cleaned with the suction device. For comers difficult t o access, one can use a glass tuhe tapered to about 2 mm in place of the former device. Before stopping the pump (slowly, to avoid hack-draught) it is advisable to raise the plastic tube vertically over the trap to ensure that the mercury drops into it. The recovered mercury is filtered and p ~ r i f i e d . ~
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Lk Nardis, R L., and Maalanka, R.J. CHEMEDUC., 60,336 (1972):Idoux,J. P., J. CHEM. EDUC.,50,739 (1972):Bowmaker, G.A,, J. CHEM. EDUC., 51, 126 (1973). W i l k i n ~ nM. , C.. Chem. Reu. 72,575 (1972).
Campus Valrase 06034 Nice Cedex, F r a n c e
H8 / Journal of ChemicalEduc~tbn
J e a n Francais G a l Marcel Azzaro
