What are the methods for dealing with mercury leaks?

I remember that sulfur powder was applied immediately.

Sulfur powder is scattered to produce mercury sulfide, which is non-toxic. If there is an excess, in addition to spreading sulfur powder, personnel must be evacuated immediately to prevent poisoning from mercury vaporization. For mercury that enters water bodies, sulfiding agents are added to form sulfide precipitates.

We want to carry out harmless treatment of mercury in containers. Can the methods mentioned above be used?

As a supplementary note: when mercury leaks, we use sulfur powder to deal with it. But some of the mercury didn’t have time to leak out. But we now want to deal with the remaining mercury – are the methods mentioned above feasible?

For those that can be collected, careful protection should be taken, and the collection material should be sealed with water.

I like this section. What the original poster is talking about regarding leaks – it should be leaks, right?

The content is from the internet; author: Huang Chongqi. Mercury, commonly known as quicksilver, is a silver-white liquid metal that is corrosive and harmful to health. It is classified as a specific chemical substance of Category C, Type 2, with a TWA of 0.05 mg/m3. Its vapor pressure is 0.0012 mmHg at 20°C, and its relative saturation concentration in air is 20 mg/m3. Mercury vapor is continuously released at room temperature, leading to exposure. Prolonged exposure to mercury vapor can cause symptoms such as involuntary tremors in the limbs and changes in personality, and it can damage the brain, kidneys, lungs, and fetuses. Acute mercury vapor poisoning can result in weakness, chills, headache, chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal taste and vision, and even loss of consciousness, hand tremors, unsteady gait, and kidney damage. Mercury is used in many products both in households and in industry, such as mercury thermometers, mercury sphygmomanometers, mercury barometers, fluorescent lamps, street lights (mercury lamps), and mercury lamps in various devices. Occupational exposure to or poisoning by mercury is more common among workers who recycle fluorescent tubes, those who repair measuring instruments, and dentists. If a thermometer is broken, the small amount of mercury present generally does not cause poisoning since it cannot be absorbed through the intestines. However, if a thermometer breaks inside an infant incubator, even a small amount can cause significant harm. If mercury leaks are not cleaned up immediately, they may be crushed into smaller particles, increasing their surface area and thus accelerating evaporation. Poor ventilation can lead to higher exposure levels; high temperatures (such as those in ovens) can also increase mercury vaporization. Mercury may also break apart upon impact, making it difficult to handle. Mercury poses a serious threat to the environment, so it must be handled carefully. It should not be poured down the sink, buried in the ground, or thrown into trash cans. Here are some precautions when using mercury: 1. Use safer alternatives: Try to replace mercury-containing products with those that are safer, such as alcohol thermometers or electronic thermometers instead of mercury thermometers, and electronic sphygmomanometers instead of mercury ones. 2. Design for spill prevention: Mercury leaks are difficult to deal with, so double-layer protection is necessary to ensure safety. It’s advisable to have sulfur powder available to form mercury sulfide. 3. Use and handling: Equipment should be designed to be enclosed, with operators controlling it from a separate room. Alternatively, methods should be used to prevent direct contact with the mercury, along with local exhaust systems that include enclosures. 4. Storage: Containers holding mercury must be kept sealed to avoid collisions and impacts. They should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated, and dry place, away from heat sources, sparks, and flames. Access should be restricted to authorized personnel only. 5. Personal hygiene: If exposed to mercury, change contaminated clothing immediately to prevent further exposure in the home or workplace. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, and rinse the mouth as well. 6. Training: Employees who may be exposed to mercury should be educated about the hazards of mercury, as well as the procedures for dealing with exposure and leaks. 7. General cleanup: Evacuate people from the area before cleaning, and improve ventilation. If the leak is on a carpet, the carpet should be discarded. For surfaces like wood or oilcloth, the following methods can be used: very small amounts can be cleaned using a small syringe or tape, while larger amounts can be absorbed using a bottle filled with water. There are also commercially available mercury cleanup kits or specialized vacuum cleaners. Sulfur powder can also be used to clean up mercury, followed by cleaning with a calcium polysulfide solution. Never use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean up mercury, as this will release mercury particles/vapor into the air, causing greater contamination. After cleaning, a mercury detector can be used to check if any residue remains. 8. Handling broken mercury lamps: When a mercury lamp breaks, the temperature inside the lamp chamber becomes very high, causing mercury to vaporize and fill the chamber. Exhaust air continuously to cool down the chamber and prevent mercury vapor from escaping. Wait at least 30 minutes until the chamber reaches room temperature before attempting cleanup. Wear protective gear such as a mask, goggles, rubber gloves, and long-sleeved clothes. Open the lamp chamber and take photos of the damage to help determine the cause. Collect all fragments (which may contain mercury) and place them in a sturdy plastic bag (to be sent to the manufacturer for analysis). After collecting everything, use a syringe to remove any remaining mercury and place it in a sealed container. 9. Disposal of waste: Contaminated materials resulting from cleanup should be placed in sealed containers. Mercury-containing waste from businesses is considered hazardous waste and should be disposed of by qualified facilities. Mercury-containing waste from homes is considered hazardous waste and should be separated from regular trash. Currently, only Taipei City, Taichung City, and Kaohsiung City have recycling vehicles that collect used fluorescent lamps. Some convenience stores and supermarkets also have stations for recycling mercury-containing batteries.

If the amount is small, first use paper or something else to fold it into a funnel shape in order to collect the larger mercury droplets, and place them in a beaker filled with water. Then sprinkle sulfur powder over the areas where mercury might be present. For a large quantity, it should also be collected first and then sulfur powder should be scattered on it

I remember that when I searched on Baidu last time, I found that covering it with sand could also be used for adsorption, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible or not:L

Sprinkle sulfur powder and immediately organize personnel to evacuate to prevent poisoning from mercury vaporization.