There is a compelling need for improved methods for the physical removal of mercury from wastes at Department of Energy sites. The DOE Mixed Waste Focus Group has listed the need for improved "Mercury/Separations/Removal" as the number 4 priority item in their list of 30 deficiency areas. There is also a large non-DOE mercury remediation market, which includes DOD sites, Superfund sites, and industrial locations. This project will combine a novel low-frequency sonic technology with a state-of-the-art mercury extraction process to efficiently treat a wide variety of DOE mixed waste streams including debris, soils, sludge, finely divided solids, and spent filter media. Phase I demonstrated that the low frequency sonic process substantially improved the extraction process by reducing the amount of reagents by a factor of 100, reduced the processing temperature requirements from 50°C to ambient, and reduced the treatment time by more than a factor of 10. The process was shown to be an effective method for extracting mercury from solids, soil, and debris. In Phase II, the overall process will be optimized and its effectiveness for the remediation of surrogate mixed wastes will be tested. A mobile, pilot processing unit will be designed, fabricated, and fielded to remediate mercury laden wastes. The mobile unit will not only be used to treat site-specific wastes but also to provide user demonstration capabilities for the process.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should be applicable to the treatment of contaminate soils from clorox/caustic manufacturers, as well as waste streams from catalysts, pesticides, electrical products, electronics and instruments, gold and silver mining and refining, and superfund site.