Environmental Issues within the Chlor-Alkali Manufacturing Industry -

Abstract

At present is estimated that around 12000 tones of mercury are contained in mercury cells used for chlorine production in the EU. Mercury contamination risk, remains active for long periods after the removing of the pollutant source, and is recognized as extremely dangerous for humans and environment due to the toxicity of various mercury compounds that can accumulate in the trophic chains. Almost all facilities using mercury -cell process reports unaccounted for mercury losses. The annual mercury balance for a site is never zero. This is because mercury accumulates in plant equipment and structures during the life of the plant. The majority of mercury losses occur, in the various process wastes. Considerable emissions of mercury can also occur with run-off water. The soil at many sites is contaminated with mercury due to deposition of atmospheric diffuse emissions and/or historical disposal of mercury contaminated wastes. An even greater problem is represented by the decommissioning of obsolete facilities when large quantities of mercury can escape in the environment despite all precaution measures.

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes Encapsulated Alginate Beads for the Removal of Mercury Ions: Design, Synthesis, Density Functional Theory Calculation, and Demonstration in a Batch and Fixed-Bed Process

“…Rapid industrialization and human activities have eventually increased the amount of mercury and other heavy metals in the environment . Water contaminated with mercury is a major cause of damage in the environment and human health due to its high toxicity.…”

Determination of mercury values in urine and air of chloralkali workers by copper nanoparticles functionalized in carboxylic carbon nanotubes and the effects of mercury exposure on oxidative stress

“…In the biogeochemical system of the earth, there are metallic mercury, organic and non-organic compounds. Exposure to any of the three can produce toxic compounds in the body [1]. Heavy metals are important factors in environmental pollution and mercury is one of the most toxic and threatens human health [2].…”

“…The greatest effect of mercury in elemental and organic form in the central nervous system and the greatest effect of mineral mercury on the digestive and excretory systems [3]. Mercury has been extensively investigated due to its wide range of applications, high toxicity, long-term ecological effects, aggregation in the food chain and adverse effects (in exposure to the low concentration of the liquid metal) [1,4,5,6].…”

“…Yet, the alkali form (methyl/ ethyl mercury) is highly soluble in fatty tissues and also highly volatile. Thus, it can be easily absorbed in the lungs and then the blood, and is 10 times as toxic [1]. Occupational mercury exposure can occur in petrochemical, and chloralkali industries, fluorescent lamps, thermometer manufacturing companies, glass production and dentistry (tooth amalgam) [10][11][12].…”

“…Thus, mercury returns to the cycle and sodium are turned into sodium hydroxide [14]. Among the disadvantage of this method are ecological issues, low efficiency in terms of the voltage used, exposure to mercury and the high cost [1]. Despite the presence of several metals in the body such as iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and selenium, the toxicity of mercury is incomparably high [6].…”