Removal of Mercury in the Hudson
There is a method that allows soil to be cleansed of its Mercury content. Mercury is a heavy, silver-white element that is liquid at room temperature. Depending on its quantity, mercury may be harmful. Mercury is a natural part of the atmosphere. During the earliest years of the earth's formation, the volcanic activity and high temperatures released mercury vapor into the air. Tolerable amounts of mercury are still found in our air, food and water. However, when mercury levels rise, the health risks increase.
The removal of mercury begins by mixing water, copper-based pellets, mercury-laden soil in a cylinder and a scattering agent that separates soil particles and disperses mercury. As the cylinder turns, the amoebic isolate (scattering agent) loosens the clumps of soil, similar to the way detergent in a washing machine loosens the dirt from clothes. While the clumps of soil break into particles smaller than sand, the copper magnetic pellets attract the mercury from the particles. A magnet removes the mercury-covered copper pellets and places them in a vacuum oven, where heat separates the mercury from the copper.
The amoebic isolate of the new process will particularly be helpful in extracting mercury from contaminated areas in the Hudson that have very tight soils. Tight soils make it harder to break the soil into smaller pieces for better contact between the copper and mercury. The amoebic isolate is safe to use because it comes from