Mercury: environmental concerns and management technologies

Abstract

Mercury is considered a priority hazadous substance due to its adverse effects on humann health and the environment. A worl-wide effort is undereway to reduce both the supply and demand of mercury. In order to solve the environmetal concern of mercury, a number of technologies have been developed to reduce its mobility towards the environment such as thermal treatments, amalgamation, stabilization/solidification, vitrification and encapsulation. This chapter aims to review the most common technologies that allow the immobilization of mercury (solid-waste and elemental liquid Hg) and disposal or safe storage of these wastes without ris for the environmet.