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Mercury Contamination from Metal Scrap Processing Facilities – A Study by Ohio EPA
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Transcript of Mercury Contamination from Metal Scrap Processing Facilities – A Study by Ohio EPA
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury Contamination from Metal Scrap Processing Facilities –
A Study by Ohio EPARadhica Sastry, James Orlemann and
Paul Koval – Ohio EPA
Presented byRadhica Sastry
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury Origin & Applications• Origin
– Hg occurs as a mineral oar called cinnabar (mercury (II) sulfide)
– Extracted by heating mercury (II) sulfide in air to form mercury (II) oxide
– Only metal that is a liquid at room temperature
• Applications– Lighting devices
– Dental amalgam
– Switching devices
– Measuring devices
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury Toxicity• Persistent toxic substance• Extremely volatile• Bacteria convert mercury into methyl
mercury and bioaccumulates in living organisms
• Accumulates in brain cells • Symptoms include headache, numbness,
balance problems, etc.
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury in the Environment
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Anthropogenic Emissions • Mercury production
• Mercury from manufacturing/combustion – Chlor-alkali plants– Coal combustion
• Mercury from disposal– Incineration
•Mercury from recycling
–Scrap processing
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Scrap Processing
• Mini-mills mainly use metal scrap to produce steel• Scrap comes from recycling facilities • End-of-Life Vehicles are sent to auto-dismantling
yards• Autos are shredded/crushed• Processed scrap sent to mini-mills to be melted• Main concern is Mercury Switches in the scrap!!
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Life Cycle of a Mercury Switch
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury Switches• What are mercury Switches?
– Tilt switches that use mercury to make contact
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury Switches - UsesWhere are mercury
switches used?– Chest freezers
– Sump pumps
– Clothes washers
– Automobiles
– Clothes irons
– Space heaters
Why are they used?– Hermetically sealed
construction– Consistent operation– High load capability– Moderate cost– Available in different
shapes, sizes and electrical ratings
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Mercury Switches • Most vehicles equipped with mercury switches• Applications are:
– Trunks & Hoods
– ABS systems
– HID lamps
• Each switch contains 0.8-1 gram Hg.• U.S. auto industry uses ~ 22,000 lbs. Hg each year
(1995 industry report)
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Ohio EPA’s Initiative• Enforcement case revealed high amounts of
mercury emissions from a mini-mill• Studies were conducted to determine source of
mercury emissions using different scrap types• Results from tests show correlation between
melting of shredded scrap and No. 2 bundles and amount of mercury emissions
• Results prompted Ohio EPA to conduct studies at other facilities
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Scrap Grades
Scrap Grade Description
Shredded scrap Homogenous iron and steel scrap, originating from automobiles, miscellaneous bailing and sheet scrap.
Bundled No. 2 Wrought iron or steel scrap, black or galvanized. Auto body and fender stock may constitute a maximum of 60% by weight
Shredded auto* Auto scrap that is shredded
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Correlation between type of scrap & mercury emissions
0.07470.0716
0.0464
0.0160.0222 0.0247 0.0254
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
Type of scrap
Am
t. of
Hg.
em
issi
ons
(lbs/
hour
)
Scrap Type Normal A B C D E F
Shredded (frag) 20 30 30 10 10 0 0
Bundles 2 10 0 0 25 0 0 20
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Details of study• Survey questionnaire sent to 70 facilities operating
electric arc furnaces /cupolas/induction furnaces– Type of scrap melted and the amount– Amount of scrap melted per heat
• Response received from 52 facilities• 7 facilities were using shredded scrap and/or No. 2
bundles while remaining 45 used different type of scrap
• Letters were sent to these 7 facilities requesting them to test for mercury emissions
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Survey Results FACILITY Furnace # No. 1 Shredded No. 2 Heavy No. 2 BundlesNo. 2 Shredded Shredded
NAME (tons/yr) Melt (tons/yr) (tons/yr) (tons/yr) Auto (tons/yr)Facility A A - 1 0 53,200 3,700 0 9,000
B - 1 0 19,946 0 240,277 30,000Facility B B - 2 0 0 0 52,130 0
B - 3 0 0 0 52,130 0
Facility C C - 1 28,908
C - 2
Facility D D - 3 3,840 5,648
D - 4 92,160 135,544
Facility E E - 1 39,559
(foundry) E - 2 11,817Facility F F - 1 300,000 0 0 436,000 0
G - 1 1,462
Facility G G - 2 21,159
(foundry) G - 3 33,450
G - 4 30,877
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Stack test results
• Out of 7 facilities, 5 were mini-mills; 2 were foundries
• 1 facility claimed bankruptcy
• 2 submitted test results conducted 2 years ago
• 2 facilities conducted the test
• 2 foundries refused to test
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Stack Test Results
Facility D
• Av amt of frag used = 31,345 lbs/heat
• Steel tonnage rate during test ~ 40 tons/hr.
• Max. capacity ~ 110 tons/hr.
• Extrapolating for max capacity conditions:– Amt of frag = 43,970 lbs/hr
– Amt of Hg. ~ 0.029 lbs/hr.
Facility D - Stack Test
0
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.01
0.012
0.014
0.016
Run 1 Run 2 Run 3Run #
Am
t. of
Hg.
(lbs
/hr)
19,208 lbs/hr
0 lbs/hr
21,317 lbs/hr
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Conclusions & Future Steps
• Definite increase in mercury emissions when shredded scrap is melted
• Mercury switches are a significant source of high mercury emissions
• Future study will include shredding facilities• Ohio is looking into starting a mercury switch
removal program• We are envisioning that we will get same facilities
to re-test
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Questions/Ideas?
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Division of Air Pollution ControlJune 25, 2001
Thank you
Contact details
[email protected](614) 728-1354