How the Mercury Spillage Kit Works - A Chemistry Lesson

Amalgams and Pseudo-Amalgams

There are two chemical systems employed in the Mercury Safety Products spillage kit.

System 1: Amalgam formation using alloy wool absorbent
Just as mercury forms an amalgam with most metals, we have developed a metal wool alloy which can be used to lift mercury spillages off almost any surface; hard floors, carpet or bedding in a hospital. The alloy wool forms an amalgam with the free mercury; even the tiny, normally elusive globules of mercury which result from a spillage are easily picked up; just like a cotton wool ball picking up water droplets.

Because an excess of base metal is present, mercury vapour loss from the used alloy wool is minimised and this can be safely stored in the multi-use waste container until the kit reagents are used up and require replacement.

System 2: Pseudo-amalgam formation using sulphur bonding
Mercury reacts strongly with thiol groups in biological molecules and this is one way in which it causes toxicity and adverse health effects, we can use this property to 'neutralise' spillages. The two components of the absorbent paste combine to give a mixture with a very large surface area, populated with sulphur groups, with which the mercury reacts. This system is best used on hard floors which can be wiped clean; it is not suitable for carpets and other absorbent surfaces.

A dilute slurry of the two chemical components can be used to decontaminate hard floor or work surface areas where a spillage has occurred in the past. In this way, mercury vapour release from 'old' spillages will be minimised. Again, on transfer to the shatterproof waste container supplied in the kit, mercury is effectively stabilised until disposal.