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Mercury in Canada

itsallgoodjames - 11-10-2020 at 21:03

I've been looking to get around half a pound of mercury metal, but the cheapest I've been able to find is nearly $200 CAD from sciencecompany . That seems rather expensive. I have a handful of thermometers, but they only have a few grams of mercury in them each. Is the 200 going to be the cheapest I could expect to get it, or is there a cheaper way to get it?

Edit - I've considered refining mercury from cinnabar, but I decided I really didn't feel comfortable distilling mercury, so anything that requires distilling mercury is defiantly a no-go.

Edit 2 - I just found plante1999's method for refining mercury from cinnabar. Depending on how cheap I can get cinnabar, that could be a possibility

Thanks!

[Edited on 12-10-2020 by itsallgoodjames]

[Edited on 12-10-2020 by itsallgoodjames]

Sulaiman - 11-10-2020 at 21:11

Recovery of mercury, especially from amalgams etc. often requires distillation.
So I think that you should consider waste management before ordering mercury.

B(a)P - 11-10-2020 at 21:15

mercury switches
This is how I get mine, not this exact product, but something similar.
It may not be practical for the 200 g you are looking for though.....

itsallgoodjames - 11-10-2020 at 21:21

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

mercury switches
This is how I get mine, not this exact product, but something similar.
It may not be practical for the 200 g you are looking for though.....

Approximately how much mercury does each switch contain?

B(a)P - 11-10-2020 at 21:24

I get 3 mm ones and they have about 0.5 g.
The ones in the link I posted claim to be 5 mm, so they might have around 1 g per switch.

valeg96 - 11-10-2020 at 21:28

The best way to get mercury is to look for old amateurs/small local companies willing to get rid of old stock. Most times, hazardous chemicals and mercury are so expensive to legally dispose of, that they will keep them stored away until a qualified and responsible buyer comes by.

See an ad on craigslist or similar places of a company selling their lab equipment because they are closing or renovating? Ask them if they sell their old chemicals as well. See an ad of a collector of pharmacy bottles? Ask if he has any filled with old chemicals. See an amateur selling generic surplus chemicals? Ask him for some Hg.

I've once contacted a company that was dismantling their soil and water analysis lab- in the end they just wasted my time as it turned out they wanted to sell their chemicals in bulk (around 10k€) but they had literal kilograms of HgSO4 and such chemicals.

A very fair price for mercury is 100€/kg. 1 kg of Hg is about 60 mL so don't be disappointed when you get to see your purchase lol.

itsallgoodjames - 11-10-2020 at 21:30

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

I get 3 mm ones and they have about 0.5 g.
The ones in the link I posted claim to be 5 mm, so they might have around 1 g per switch.

Oh wow, that's more than I was expecting. I was expecting it to be more like 0.1 or 0.2 grams. Just from a quick ebay search, it doesn't seem to be all that cost effective, as it'd be around $400 for the half pound of mercury.

B(a)P - 11-10-2020 at 21:40

link
Here is 50 for $10 plus postage

itsallgoodjames - 11-10-2020 at 21:47

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

link
Here is 50 for $10 plus postage

I don't know why I didn't check amazon. Thanks. I'll probably end up ordering 5 or 6 of those.

B(a)P - 11-10-2020 at 21:51

Maybe start with a smaller order to make sure they are legit and so you can work out the mass of mercury that each switch contains.
That is approaching, 'to good to be true' territory.

itsallgoodjames - 11-10-2020 at 21:54

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

Maybe start with a smaller order to make sure they are legit and so you can work out the mass of mercury that each switch contains.
That is approaching, 'to good to be true' territory.

Yeah, of course.

valeg96 - 11-10-2020 at 22:06

You realize that half a pound (230 g) of mercury from switches will cost you 100-200$, right? Doesn't sound too cost effective to me. Unless you desperately need it, I don't think that'd be an efficient way to get it. Besides, it's only 10 mL after all the hassle.

If you're that desperate buy cinnabar from aliexpress (30€/100g)and decompose it.

[Edited on 12-10-2020 by valeg96]

B(a)P - 12-10-2020 at 00:27

Quote: Originally posted by valeg96

You realize that half a pound (230 g) of mercury from switches will cost you 100-200$, right? Doesn't sound too cost effective to me. Unless you desperately need it, I don't think that'd be an efficient way to get it. Besides, it's only 10 mL after all the hassle.

If you're that desperate buy cinnabar from aliexpress (30€/100g)and decompose it.

[Edited on 12-10-2020 by valeg96]

Did you look at the Amazon link? At that price 200 of them would cost $40.

wg48temp9 - 12-10-2020 at 01:36

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

I get 3 mm ones and they have about 0.5 g.
The ones in the link I posted claim to be 5 mm, so they might have around 1 g per switch.

That's a lot of mercury for a miniature tilt switch. The density of mercury is 13.5g per 1cm cube. So the mass of a 5mm cube would be about 0.1g. I doubt a 3mm switch has 5mm cube of mercury in it. Probably closer to about 50mg. That's almost 10,000 switches for a pound of mercury !!!

monolithic - 12-10-2020 at 03:49

Quote: Originally posted by itsallgoodjames

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

mercury switches
This is how I get mine, not this exact product, but something similar.
It may not be practical for the 200 g you are looking for though.....

Approximately how much mercury does each switch contain?

I've read that mercury contactors contain much more mercury than switches, like tens of grams. Might be worth looking into. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l...

Fyndium - 12-10-2020 at 04:37

I always wonder where does all the mercury end up which was once used for any reason? Likely they turn it into mercury sulfate, the most stable form, but after that, is it stored somewhere indefinitely in containers, or is it dug into ground like nuclear waste?

Metallophile - 12-10-2020 at 06:12

Quote: Originally posted by wg48temp9

That's a lot of mercury for a miniature tilt switch. The density of mercury is 13.5g per 1cm cube. So the mass of a 5mm cube would be about 0.1g.

That doesn't sound right. I get about 1.7g for a 5mm cube. Hg is heavy!

valeg96 - 12-10-2020 at 07:01

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

Quote: Originally posted by valeg96

Did you look at the Amazon link? At that price 200 of them would cost $40.

Yes. Assuming they contain 0.5 g of mercury each, 200 switches contain 100 g of mercury. For half a pound (230 g) that's at least 90$, and even more if they contain just 0.4-0.3 g. It's ridiculous, especially if you consider that by looking around enough you will find it for as low as 100$/kg. But then again, y'all can do whatever you want with your money, but imho it's not worth it.

wg48temp9 - 12-10-2020 at 07:16

Quote: Originally posted by Metallophile

Quote: Originally posted by wg48temp9

That's a lot of mercury for a miniature tilt switch. The density of mercury is 13.5g per 1cm cube. So the mass of a 5mm cube would be about 0.1g.

That doesn't sound right. I get about 1.7g for a 5mm cube. Hg is heavy!

Oops! yes your correct I am glad somebody was awake. For some reason I divided the density by five cubed and should have divided it by two cubed.

Herr Haber - 12-10-2020 at 08:31

Quote: Originally posted by valeg96

The best way to get mercury is to look for old amateurs/small local companies willing to get rid of old stock.

I should be getting 2kg in a couple of weeks from a guy that has been holding to it for the last 40 years not knowing what to do with it.

Chloralkali, here I come !

itsallgoodjames - 12-10-2020 at 08:56

Quote: Originally posted by Herr Haber

Quote: Originally posted by valeg96

The best way to get mercury is to look for old amateurs/small local companies willing to get rid of old stock.

I should be getting 2kg in a couple of weeks from a guy that has been holding to it for the last 40 years not knowing what to do with it.

Chloralkali, here I come !

Out of curiosity, how much did that cost?

Herr Haber - 12-10-2020 at 09:56

Zero !

It was pure luck, someone from another hobby.
My friends brought me to an abandoned lab, I found some mercury, later talked with some friend saying how fun it was that it happened to me and that guy I didnt know chimed in

Sometimes you just get lucky :cool:

XeonTheMGPony - 12-10-2020 at 13:05

that's how I got 4 pounds of it, lots and lots of asking, in the end cost me 20 bucks

Harder out in the prairies but still having luck now and then, pure lead how ever is much much more difficult, but that is due to digital radiology in dental now days .

B(a)P - 12-10-2020 at 15:50

These guys seem quite cheap
Lab Alley
I have never used them, maybe someone else here has.

Morue - 12-10-2020 at 16:21

Isn't mercury regulated in Canada? I'm not sure you can legally import mercury into Canada, and even if you can, taxes and duty will probably be very high. You should have a look at CBSA website first, I wouldn't be surprised if that 200$ ended up being 300$.

There's this company : https://alphachem.ca/ which apparently sells chemicals to individual. I've never order from them, I don't know if they sell mercury metal, but maybe you could give them a call and ask. They appear to be based in Ontario, but they mention on their website "no dangerous goods surchage".

MidLifeChemist - 12-10-2020 at 19:02

Quote: Originally posted by Morue

Isn't mercury regulated in Canada? I'm not sure you can legally import mercury into Canada, and even if you can, taxes and duty will probably be very high.

taxes and duties shipping into canada are generally 10%

itsallgoodjames - 13-10-2020 at 06:19

Quote: Originally posted by MidLifeChemist

Quote: Originally posted by Morue

Isn't mercury regulated in Canada? I'm not sure you can legally import mercury into Canada, and even if you can, taxes and duty will probably be very high.

taxes and duties shipping into canada are generally 10%

Depends on what it is and where it's coming from. I've had it where it was 35% on importing an oscilloscope from the UK

itsallgoodjames - 13-10-2020 at 07:09

Quote: Originally posted by Morue

Isn't mercury regulated in Canada? I'm not sure you can legally import mercury into Canada, and even if you can, taxes and duty will probably be very high. You should have a look at CBSA website first, I wouldn't be surprised if that 200$ ended up being 300$.

There's this company : https://alphachem.ca/ which apparently sells chemicals to individual. I've never order from them, I don't know if they sell mercury metal, but maybe you could give them a call and ask. They appear to be based in Ontario, but they mention on their website "no dangerous goods surchage".

I emailed them, they don't sell mercury metal

Mateo_swe - 18-10-2020 at 08:39

I was looking for some mercury some time ago and found another older thread about it.
There was a link to a Spanish trade site where mercury was offered in quantities from a gram to many kilos.
Most are quite expensive but i have seen some cheaper offers as well.
Its in spanish language though.
Here is the link
https://www.milanuncios.com/minerales-de-coleccion/mercurio....

Alphachem - 18-10-2020 at 14:58

You are unable to buy or sell mercury in Canada anymore.

itsallgoodjames - 25-2-2021 at 16:18

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

I get 3 mm ones and they have about 0.5 g.
The ones in the link I posted claim to be 5 mm, so they might have around 1 g per switch.

I've just ordered 100 5mm switches, and I'll see how much mercury is in them. I found an eBay listing for 100 for $15

mr_bovinejony - 25-2-2021 at 16:56

Breaking the switches are annoying. I got about 20 grams from 100 switches. Maybe they're not the same size, I think I only paid 10 for mine

B(a)P - 25-2-2021 at 16:57

Quote: Originally posted by itsallgoodjames

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

I get 3 mm ones and they have about 0.5 g.
The ones in the link I posted claim to be 5 mm, so they might have around 1 g per switch.

I've just ordered 100 5mm switches, and I'll see how much mercury is in them. I found an eBay listing for 100 for $15

Best of luck with it. For what it is worth, my approach for the removal of mercury from the switches is as follows.
I start with three 250 mL beakers, the first is for emptying the switches into, the second is for opening the switches over and the third is for the waste glass/contacts.
I use small side cutters to carefully remove the tip of the switches (they are like a little glass bead at the top of the switches that I get) while holding the switch over beaker two.
After snipping off the tip check to make sure there is no loose glass fragments then pour the contents into beaker one and discard the waste glass ect into beaker three.

You should end up with nearly glass free mercury in beaker one, some glass shards and a little mercury in beaker two that you can carefully decant into beaker one and a bunch of lightly contaminated waste. I wash my waste with nitric acid to extract the last of the mercury before disposal.

For PPE I use a lab coat, long cuff PVC gloves and a face shield.

These are the side cutters I was referring to.

itsallgoodjames - 25-2-2021 at 18:51

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

Quote: Originally posted by itsallgoodjames

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

I get 3 mm ones and they have about 0.5 g.
The ones in the link I posted claim to be 5 mm, so they might have around 1 g per switch.

I've just ordered 100 5mm switches, and I'll see how much mercury is in them. I found an eBay listing for 100 for $15

Thanks for the information. I've had better luck using wire strippers to open small light bulbs (should be fairly similar). I find side cutters just crush the bulb, rather than nicely open it. I imagine that wire strippers might be better for the tilt switches as well. Using the three beakers is a good idea. I have a mercury contaminated glass (sealed so no mercury vapor gets out) bin, so I'll just put the remainder of the glass in there. I may or may not recover the mercury in the future.

If this goes well, I intend to buy a kilogram of mercury worth of tilt switches, as a kilo of mercury for $150 is a steal for Canada mercury prices.

Fyndium - 26-2-2021 at 04:16

Havent measured, but I got those same switches ages ago and I'd dare to say it's far from 1g per switch. The droplet is about 2mm big. Even with 3mm diameter it'd weight 180mg if d=13kg/L.

So for 100 switches one would get 18g of mercury and current cost with shipping is 35$. 150$/kg isn't so bad after all, but for market bulk price for a flask, it's a robbery.

[Edited on 26-2-2021 by Fyndium]

itsallgoodjames - 28-2-2021 at 17:57

Quote: Originally posted by Fyndium

150$/kg isn't so bad after all, but for market bulk price for a flask, it's a robbery.

[Edited on 26-2-2021 by Fyndium]

But I can't buy a flask of mercury in Canada, or else I would

XeonTheMGPony - 1-3-2021 at 08:55

Mercury is about 200 dollars a pound in Canada

itsallgoodjames - 15-3-2021 at 13:17

The switches arrived. When I finish cutting them open I report back with the weight of Hg

itsallgoodjames - 15-3-2021 at 14:08

So umm, the mercury is turning yellow...