Compact System for Removal of Dental Office Mercury

描述（由申请人提供）：通过采取一些预防措施（例如个人监测、加强通风），牙医已经能够降低汞逃逸到环境中的风险。虽然这些预防措施很重要，但仍有许多汞排放超过批准的法规的情况。这些汞排放危害牙科人员的健康。在第一阶段，紧凑型膜系统（CMS）证明了一种小型、安全、低成本系统的可行性，该系统可放置在牙科诊所或通风管道系统内，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困难）。CMS已经确定了低成本的商业途径来收集硫化汞，并通过将大量的硫化汞送到汞回收厂来回收汞。整体商业模式为牙医提供每年不到500美元的服务，并最大限度地减少牙医的风险或责任。第一阶段表明，CMS系统可以很容易地去除空气中的高浓度汞，而且在使用适当的系统时可以做到这一点，而对系统污染的关注最小。通过使用适当的化学系统，我们能够成功地去除元素汞在恶劣的混合条件下，没有污垢超过14天的测试期。这强烈表明，在使用增强/优化的液体侧混合的阶段II中，长期结垢不应该是问题。第二阶段将优化/增强核心技术，并建立原型用于现场演示。许多当地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者已同意参与现场测试和项目活动。系统优化将包括提高长期稳定性，最大限度地减少结垢的可能性，低成本服务的基础数据，同时保持高的汞蒸气去除能力。系统的设计每年可去除30克以上的汞。紧凑型膜系统（CMS）已经建立了强大的工业合作伙伴关系。这些伙伴关系将提高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.