Losses of mercury from chlorine plants: A review of a pollution problem

The problem of mercury losses from chlorine plants is reviewed. The mercury material balance is difficult to establish because mercury escapes from the process by a number of routes. Some of the reasons for the mercury emissions are explored, and some problems involved in the measurement of mercury in various effluents are discussed. A number of mercury containment processes for specific streams have already been proposed, but the need for an integrated mercury recycle policy still exists.