Compact System for Removal of Dental Office Mercury

用于去除牙科诊所汞的紧凑型系统

• 批准号: 7121617
• 负责人: John J Bowser
• 金额: $ 40.33万
• 依托单位: COMPACT MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-09-15 至 2009-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7121617
• 关键词: air filtration; biomedical equipment development; dental health services; mercury; mercury poisoning; occupational hazard; vapor

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.

描述（由申请人提供）：通过采取多种预防措施（例如个人监测、加强通风），牙医已经能够降低汞逸出到环境中的风险。尽管这些预防措施很重要，但仍有许多汞排放量超出批准规定的情况。这些汞排放会损害牙科人员的健康。在第一阶段，紧凑型膜系统 (CMS) 证明了小型、安全、低成本系统的可行性，该系统可以放置在牙科诊所或空气管道系统内，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困难）。 CMS 已经确定了收集 HgS 的低成本商业路线，并通过批量发送到 Hg 干馏器来回收 Hg。整体商业模式为牙医提供每年不到 500 美元的服务，并将牙医的风险或责任降至最低。第一阶段证明，CMS 系统可以轻松去除空气中超标的汞，并且可以在使用适当的系统时实现这一点，并且对系统污染的担忧最小。通过使用适当的化学系统，我们能够在不良混合条件下成功去除元素汞，并且在 14 天的测试期内没有发现任何结垢。这强烈表明，在第二阶段使用增强/优化的液体侧混合，长期结垢不应该成为问题。二期将优化/增强核心技术并构建样机进行现场演示。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、最大限度地减少结垢可能性、低成本服务的基本数据，同时保持高汞蒸气去除能力。系统设计每年可去除 30 克以上的汞。紧凑型膜系统 (CMS) 已建立了强大的工业合作伙伴关系。这些合作伙伴关系将增强 CMS 成功完成第二阶段和后续商业化的能力。