CSIO transfers tech for safe disposal of mercury lamps to Delhi firm

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

The Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) here has transferred the technology of ‘Process Technology for Safe Disposal of Waste Mercury Based Lamps and Separation of its Phosphor and Glass’ to a Delhi-based firm for its commercial production and marketing.

Tube eater system

The tube eater system can be used for safe breakage of waste tube lights and CFL bulbs. Suitable filters and vacuum conditions have been provided in the vessel so as to trap mercury vapours and making the whole process safe for operation under recommended conditions.

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This “tube eater” system can be used for safe breakage of waste tube lights and CFL bulbs. Suitable filters and vacuum conditions have been provided in the vessel so as to trap mercury vapours and making the whole process safe for operation under recommended conditions.

After breaking the e-waste, the glass and phosphors are separated in acid-free conditions, both of which can be reused for further applications. The system has been designed and developed by Dr Parveen Kumar and Dr Akash Deep at the CSIO.

India has approximately two billion installed lighting points – with 60 per cent of these in the residential sector and remaining in the commercial sector. The lighting industry in India has a strong growth rate of 59 per cent, which has been driven by the move from GLS lamps to CFLs and more recently to LEDs.

There are around 60 lamp manufacturers in the country manufacturing more than 90 per cent CFLs and fluorescent tube lights used in India. The management of mercury bearing fluorescent lamps from cradle to grave is a major environmental concern and the disposal process of mercury containing lamps and tube lights has been linked with a wide range of health effects, including irreversible damage to the human nervous system. Therefore, a proper disposal process, minimising damage to the environment is of extreme relevance and has the potential to create a huge socioeconomic impact.