Voltammetry & Mercury Handling
Mercury is a poisonous metal. You should therefore observe a few rules to protect yourself and the environment when using it.
Occupational Health & Safety
The mercury in the Multi-Mode Electrode is found in a closed system. Therefore, direct contact is only possible when using and servicing the electrode.
- The most important rule when handling elemental mercury, DO NOT inhale mercury vapors.
- Always store mercury in a closed container. Mercury must never be left in open vessels. An overlaying layer of water or supporting electrolyte does not suppress mercury evaporation. The tightly closed, small, unbreakable mercury container as well as all parts that are contaminated with mercury must be stored in a fume cupboard that is always switched on.
- Working in a fume cupboard. The handling of open mercury (e.g. maintenance of the Multi-Mode electrode or Multi-Mode Electrode Pro) should always be carried out in a fume cupboard or fume hood.
- Working over plastic trays. Vessels containing mercury must be carried in, or at least above, rigid seamless trays made of plastic or enameled metal. The supplied 6.2711.030 drip pan man of polystyrene is particularly suitable for this.
- Ventilate laboratory areas well. Rooms where work with mercury is being conducted should be thoroughly aired from time to time.
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Personal protective equipment.
a. Gloves. Simple laboratory gloves are not suitable for handling mercury. If you want to effectively protect yourself against contact with mercury and mercury compounds, you must use category II or III (EN 374) chemical protective gloves made of nitrile rubber with a thickness of 0.11mm or higher.
b. Protective glasses.
c. Lab coat.
d. Hygiene measures. Wash hands thoroughly after working with mercury. Do not eat, drink or smoke when using mercury. Apply skin-protective barrier cream and immediately change any contaminated clothing.
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Collecting spilled mercury drops. Single mercury drops in the drip pan or any other spilled mercury can be bound in a simple manner by amalgamation.
a. With silver (Ag): Mercury drop catcher type 6.2406.000, which is included in the scope of delivery of the 797 VA Computrace.
b. With tin (Sn): e.g. thin tin foil supplied by Merck, Sigma-Aldrich or other chemistry suppliers.
c. With special laboratory aids: e.g. Chemizorb Hg (www.merckmillipore.com) Mercsorb mercury spill kit (www.sigmaaldrich.com) or Mercurisorb-ROTH (www.carlroth.com). Do not use a vacuum cleaner or broom.
No loss of mercury doing use, 100% recovery
Collecting mercury
When the Multi-Mode Electrode is used, mercury accumulates on the bottom of the measuring vessel and must be collected for later disposal.
This can be done by emptying the analysis solutions in a large vessel. From there the mercury can be collected by means of the mercury drop catcher (6.2406.000) or the overlaying solution decanted, and the used mercury collected in a closed waste container.
The storage container of the mercury drop catcher should be emptied regularly and rinsed thoroughly several times. If the mercury drop catcher is used outside the fume hood, keep a minimum safety distance of 50cm between your head and the mercury trap.
Please note: Do not use the mercury catcher directly in the measuring vessel if you perform trace analysis!
Disposal of used mercury
Mercury can be purified, but this requires an extensive laboratory setup and considerable time. For this reason, we recommend collecting waste mercury in a closed container and then sending it for disposal or recycling to the responsible authorities or authorized companies in accordance with the particular national or state regulations.
Additional Support
If you encounter any issues or need additional help, please submit a support ticket through Metrohm Technical Support.
For additional training on any of these topics, explore our Metrohm Custom Training options.