Mercury and Silver in Clinic Wastewater Goodfellow AFB, Texas
Abstract
The AFOEHL conducted a wastewater survey to identify the high concentrations of mercury in the wastewater from the USAF Clinic, Goodfellow AFB TX. The sources of mercury were identified. The high volume oral evacuation system (HVE), was found to be the major contributor to mercury levels in the sewer. Material suctioned from teeth restoration are collected in a central separator/collection tank. The tank is automatically cleaned by rinsing it with water once a day. The rinsate is flushed to the sewer system. Silver from a silver recovery unit processing waste photographic fixer was also found in high levels in samples. Discarded amalgam capsules were found not to be a RCRA waste. The recommendations were: (1) A finer mesh screen should be used in the strainer attached to the dental aspirator kit. (2) A gravity separation or filtration unit should be installed to remove the mercury from the HVE system. (3) A study of the economics of the silver recovery process should be conducted. (4) If silver recovery continues, a metallic replacement unit should be fitted after the electrolytic unit. (5) Samples for metals should be obtained carefully.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA212955
Entities
People
- Robert D. Binovi