Compact System for Removal of Dental Office Mercury

描述(由申请人提供)：通过制定一些预防措施(例如，个人监测、加强通风)，牙医已经能够降低汞泄漏到环境中的风险。虽然这些预防措施意义重大，但仍有许多汞排放超过核准条例的情况。这些汞排放危及牙科工作人员的健康。在第一阶段，紧凑型膜系统(CMS)证明了一种小型、安全、低成本的系统的可行性，该系统可以放置在牙科办公室或空气管道系统内，以主动去除元素汞并将其转化为硫化汞(HGS)。(金属汞的去除实际上比离子汞更难)。CMS已经确定了收集汞的低成本商业途径，通过向汞蒸馏器散装运送汞，可以回收汞。整个商业模式以不到500美元的价格向牙医提供年度服务，并将牙医的风险敞口或责任降至最低。第一阶段表明，CMS系统既可以很容易地去除空气中汞的含量，也可以在使用适当系统的情况下做到这一点，而对系统污染的担忧最小。通过使用适当的化学系统，我们能够在恶劣的混合条件下成功地去除元素汞，在14天的测试期内没有看到任何污垢。这有力地表明，在使用强化/优化液体侧混合的第二阶段，长期污垢不应成为问题。第二阶段将优化/增强核心技术，并建立用于现场演示的原型。许多地方牙科诊所已承诺参与现场评估，一所国立大学牙科汞排放领域的领导人已同意参加现场测试和项目活动。系统优化将包括增强长期稳定性，最大限度地减少污染可能性，为低成本服务提供基本数据，同时保持较高的汞蒸气去除能力。系统将被设计为每年去除30克以上的汞。紧凑型膜系统公司(CMS)已经建立了强大的行业合作伙伴关系。这些伙伴关系将增强CMS成功完成第二阶段和随后商业化的能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): By instituting a number of precautions (e.g. personal monitoring, enhanced ventilation) dentists have been able to reduce the risk of mercury escaping into the environment. While these precautions are significant there are still numerous instances of mercury emissions above approved regulations. These Hg emissions compromise health of dental personnel. In Phase I Compact Membrane Systems (CMS) demonstrated the feasibility of a small, safe, low cost system that can be placed within the dental office or within the air duct system to actively remove elemental mercury and convert it to mercury sulfide (HgS). (Removal of metallic mercury is actually more difficult than ionic mercury). CMS has identified low cost commercial routes to collect the HgS and by sending in bulk to Hg retorters the Hg can be recovered. The overall business model provides an annual service to the dentist for less than $500 and minimizes the dentist's exposure or liability. Phase I demonstrated that the CMS system could both easily remove the spiked levels of mercury that was in the air and that this could be done when using the proper system with minimal concern for system fouling. By using proper chemical systems we were able to successfully remove elemental Hg under poor mixing conditions with no fouling seen over a 14-day test period. This strongly suggests that in Phase II using enhanced/optimized liquid side mixing that long term fouling should not be an issue. Phase II will optimize/enhance the core technology and build prototype for field demonstration. Numerous local dental offices have committed to participate in field evaluation and leaders in the dental mercury emissions field at a national university have agreed to participate in both field testing and program activity. System optimization will include enhancing long term stability, minimizing fouling potential, basic data for low cost service while maintaining high mercury vapor removal capability. Systems will be designed for upwards of 30 grams of mercury removal per year. Compact Membrane Systems (CMS) has established strong industrial partnerships. These partnerships will enhance CMS's capability to successfully complete the Phase II and subsequent commercialization.