A Rapid Mercury Still

Extract

This still is a modification of Hulett's pattern in which mercury is distilled in a current of air at greatly reduced pressure. The current of air has two uses; first it prevents bumping and so is led in beneath the surface of the boiling mercury, and secondly, it oxidizes most of the zinc, cadmium and lead which go over. The oxides float on the distillate and are easily removed by straining it. A still made according to Hulett's directions and having a boiler of half a litre capacity will distil satisfactorily about 750 grams per hour. If the rate of distillation is increased much, some of the other metals go over, and if more air is admitted to prevent this, the boiling mercury is thrown about very violently in the boiler, which breaks sooner or later.