Mercury and NORMs Remediation

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal that exists in three main forms – elemental (liquid), emit mercury vapour; inorganic mercury normally stabile until 265oC, and organic mercury (methyl mercury). It is found in varying concentrations in oil, gas, coal and minerals. Mercury amalgamates with a number of metals but not with steel in which it gets accumulated by adsorption and to a lesser extent, chemisorption. This leaves it in the metallic form with the potential to emit considerable amounts of mercury vapours. The term Wall Bound Mercury is often used, and it causes serious problems in recycling with oxy cutting as well as smelting.  

Wall bound mercury concentrations appear to grow due to accumulation, especially in vapour (head)spaces. So even with a very low mercury concentration in an asset at the beginning of its lifecycle, over the lifetime of an asset limits are often exceeded.    

Liberty Industrial uses several methods to strip wall bound mercury from steel surfaces to allow for gas cutting and acceptance by various smelters.  Our chemical mercury decontamination method enables us to turn metallic mercury into mercury-sulphur compounds which can be separated from the water fraction by precipitation leaving the mercury trapped in a solid, which is not emitting any mercury vapours and can be drummed for disposal. The water fraction of the chemical mixture can be treated to meet local disposal standards.      

This method leads to substantial hazardous waste minimalisation and increased safety on site. 

With proven experience in managing the safe disposal of mercury and NORMs contaminated materials and navigating complex international regulations such as Minamata Convention, International guidelines, our team is uniquely positioned to help clients address, plan, and mitigate risks associated with the safe disposal of these hazardous materials. We understand the intricate controls governing mercury and NORMs contaminated materials management across different jurisdictions by leveraging our in-depth regulatory knowledge to guide clients through compliance challenges. By providing strategic insights and practical solutions, we help clients ensure safe, efficient disposal and regulatory alignment, regardless of where they operate.

At Liberty Industrial, we prioritise environmental safety by employing advanced technologies to manage and remediate mercury and NORMs contamination during decommissioning processes. 

Our methods include specialised cleaning techniques to decontaminate valuable materials while ensuring waste byproducts are securely disposed of and valuable resources are recovered. Through rigorous assessments, mapping, and targeted chemical treatments, we achieve compliance with regulatory standards, reducing environmental risk and supporting sustainable practices. 

Our comprehensive approach includes both the identification of hazardous materials and the application of advanced treatment methods including: 

• Monitoring and mapping

• Self-contained Hydro-jetting

• Chemical decontamination

• Waste minimalisation and water treatment

• Management, packaging and temporary storage of material prior to disposal
• Secure Disposal of material

Liberty Industrial has strong relationships with other leading providers in Mercury and NORM Treatment and Disposal and works with our client base to develop and provide the most appropriate pathway to manage these materials, in a way that suits the specific needs of your project.