Mercury Use in Products Mercury Use in Products and Industrial Processesand Industrial Processes

Linda E. Greer, Ph.D.Linda E. Greer, Ph.D.Natural Resources Defense Natural Resources Defense

CouncilCouncil

The Most Notorious Source of The Most Notorious Source of Mercury PollutionMercury Pollution

Characteristics of Mercury MarketCharacteristics of Mercury Market

Global in natureGlobal in natureSmall in economic terms (less than $25 Small in economic terms (less than $25 million) and tonnage (~3500 million) and tonnage (~3500 tonnestonnes))Private primary mines closed, government Private primary mines closed, government mines subsidizedmines subsidizedSecondary supplies expected to riseSecondary supplies expected to riseDemand concentrated in only a few Demand concentrated in only a few sectorssectors

Geography of Mercury DemandGeography of Mercury Demand

Global Mercury Consumption- 2004 (tonnes)

Other, 175Batteries, 200

Switches, 154

Lighting, 91

Measuring, 166

Dental, 272Vinyl chloride,

610

Chlor-alkali, 797

Small-scale gold mining, 650

SpolatiaSpolatia ChlorChlor Alkali plantAlkali plantNeratoviceNeratovice, Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Mercury Pollution from Mercury Pollution from ChlorChlor alkali alkali ProductionProduction

Mercury cell process accounts for large fraction of Mercury cell process accounts for large fraction of overall mercury use worldwide(~25%)overall mercury use worldwide(~25%)Process used in many developing countriesProcess used in many developing countriesMercury emissions estimates from 0.6 g to 3 Mercury emissions estimates from 0.6 g to 3 g/tonneg/tonnechlorine, depending on estimate (OIT,2000)chlorine, depending on estimate (OIT,2000)In India, losses are much higher: 146 In India, losses are much higher: 146 g/tonneg/tonne caustic caustic (CSE, 2002) (CSE, 2002) Reliability of electricity is a critical factor Reliability of electricity is a critical factor -- power power interruption can decrease efficiency and increase interruption can decrease efficiency and increase mercury releases in return brine to 200 mg/l v 7 mg/l mercury releases in return brine to 200 mg/l v 7 mg/l (CSE 2002)(CSE 2002)

Phase out of Mercury Technology Phase out of Mercury Technology in in ChlorChlor Alkali SectorAlkali Sector

Environmental preference is for Environmental preference is for conversion from mercury cell to membrane conversion from mercury cell to membrane cell plantscell plants

EuroChlorEuroChlor has committed to voluntary phase has committed to voluntary phase out of mercury plants by 2020out of mercury plants by 2020Indian Indian chlorchlor--alkali sector has agreed to alkali sector has agreed to voluntary phase out by 2012voluntary phase out by 2012United States has six remaining plants, no United States has six remaining plants, no requirements for conversion requirements for conversion

Vinyl Chloride ManufactureVinyl Chloride Manufacture

Growth estimates for PVC sectorGrowth estimates for PVC sector

From 2002From 2002--2004, PVC output in China rose from 2004, PVC output in China rose from 1.96 million tons to 3.1 million tons, an annual 1.96 million tons to 3.1 million tons, an annual increase of over 25%.increase of over 25%.

Mercury catalyst usage grew by an annual rate of Mercury catalyst usage grew by an annual rate of 31.4% during this period.31.4% during this period.

***This is probably the largest single use of ***This is probably the largest single use of mercury within any sector of any country****mercury within any sector of any country****

Legal Mining and ImportsLegal Mining and Imports19951995--20042004

0200400600800

10001200140016001800

1995

1996

1997

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Year

Volu

me

(ton)

Hg import volumeHg mining output

Mercury Pollution from Vinyl Mercury Pollution from Vinyl Chloride Sector (China)Chloride Sector (China)

Mercury escapes from activated carbon matrix Mercury escapes from activated carbon matrix and is entrained in reaction gasesand is entrained in reaction gasesTravels with byTravels with by--products/heavy ends resulting products/heavy ends resulting from reactionfrom reactionUltimate fate is poorly understood Ultimate fate is poorly understood

Half may be escaping into environment or traveling Half may be escaping into environment or traveling with hydrochloric acid subsequently sold and used as with hydrochloric acid subsequently sold and used as a product in other industriesa product in other industriesThe other half remains on The other half remains on ““spentspent”” catalystcatalyst

NRDC estimates that over 300 tons a year of NRDC estimates that over 300 tons a year of mercury is escaping from this industry from mercury is escaping from this industry from China aloneChina alone

Energy Usage in Vinyl Chloride Energy Usage in Vinyl Chloride SectorSector

Highly energy intensive process used Highly energy intensive process used upstream for feedstock to the process: upstream for feedstock to the process: manufacture of calcium carbidemanufacture of calcium carbide3450 3450 kwh/tonnekwh/tonne calcium carbide calcium carbide reportedly used for production in Chinareportedly used for production in ChinaCurrently extreme excess production of Currently extreme excess production of calcium carbide; government working to calcium carbide; government working to decrease production by 50%decrease production by 50%

Options for Reducing Mercury Options for Reducing Mercury Usage in VCM manufactureUsage in VCM manufacture

Alternative nonAlternative non--mercury catalystsmercury catalystsCoal to ethylene via Coal to ethylene via napthanapthaBetter management of mercury catalyst Better management of mercury catalyst during productionduring production

Improvements in recycling??Improvements in recycling??