HAMMOND – Researchers from Purdue University Calumet have completed a study of the Great Lakes that could be used to reduce mercury and other metals discharged into the Great Lakes by industry. Purdue Calumet researchers joined with scientists from the Argonne National Laboratory in the project, which began in 2007.

“Our research teams have conducted more than 30 bench-scale treatability studies in seven technology categories and employed advanced analytical techniques to analyze these metals at lower concentrations than typically analyzed, in an effort to minimize the discharge of these heavy metals into the Great Lakes,” said George Nanna, director of the Purdue University Calumet Water Institute.

“This work is significant because the results offer treatment alternatives for different forms of mercury. The tested technologies may be applicable to various types of wastewater that contain mercury,” said M. Christina Negri, an Argonne agronomist and co-lead scientist on the project.