Need to return call by / at/between and . Signature: 

 Project No.: 0172.08.036.500 Page 1 of 2 

 Project Name: Dental Amalgam CBI? 

 Yes 

 No 

TELEPHONE CALL RECORD 

 Incoming 

 Outgoing 

Date: 05/10/11 Time: 2:30 am 

 pm 

Company Name: SolmeteX ERG Staff Name: Kimberly Landick 

Contact Name: Al Dube` Contact Phone Number: (508) 397-9725 

General Subject: Polishing System for Removing Dissolved Mercury 

TOPICS DISCUSSED AND ACTION TAKEN 

On May 10, 2011 at 2:30pm I called SolmeteX (508-393-5115) and asked for information about the polishing 

system for removing dissolved mercury. I talked to a support team member, Kelly, and was told to contact Al 

Dube` directly on his cell phone (508-397-9725). I called Mr. Dube` and left a message explaining that I was 

requesting information on the polishing system for removing dissolved mercury. 

On May 10, 2011 at 4:00pm Mr. Dube` retuned my call. I explained that ERG is working with EPA to compile 

some information about the polishing system for removing dissolved mercury and that I had some questions for 

him. See questions below with answers following in blue. 

1. Can you explain the components of the polishing system? 

It is a pump and treat system working with an amalgam separator. The waste first goes from the each 

chair to a standard amalgam separator that eliminates the mercury solids. This separator is large enough 

to hold the liquid for one day. At the end of the day the amalgam separator is shut off and the liquid is 

pumped to a secondary step holding tank (with no solids present). It then goes through an oxidation step 

(normally it is not recommended to oxidize the dental waste stream but doing so without any solids 

present allows for speciation of the mercury, which allows for removal of dissolved mercury – this 

technology is patented by SolmeteX), and then is pumped through 3 filters. The first filter is a 

granulated activated carbon filter, the second is a Keyle:X resin cartridge, and the third is a 0.5 micron 

filter. This process allows for the removal of dissolved mercury. It is not perfect however; the dental 

stream is very difficult to treat because there are so many constituents. For example there are over 35 

different line cleaners with various ingredients and also the possibility for organics to enter the waste 

stream. But by allowing speciation of the mercury with the oxidation step and using the 3 filters, the 

dissolved mercury can be removed. 

2. Can you give an estimate of the capital cost for the polishing system? 

The approximate retail cost is $4,000 each. 

3. Can you give an estimate on the operation and maintenance costs for the polishing system? 

There are 3 pieces of the polishing system that require maintenance. The first is the filters which need to 

be replaced about twice a year, depending on the dental office’s waste stream. The filters are $600 for 

the series of three. This is an annual cost of $1200. The standard amalgam collection container attached 

to the polishing system also needs to be replaced. This costs $300 per container and needs to be replaced 
Need to return call by / at/between and . Signature: 

twice a year, adding $600 to the annual O&M cost. The final maintenance cost is chlorine tablets for 

disinfection. These are obtained from any local pool vendor and it is estimated that 2-3 buckets are used 

annually. Costs can be gathered from local vendors. 

4. Are the components of the polishing system replaced at the same time as the amalgam separator 

components? 

Not really. The collection container has a fill line so a visual inspection can be done to determine when 

to replace it. The filters are replaced when breakthrough has occurred (determined by a spike in the 

waste stream). These replacements can occur at any time and do not necessarily line up with when an 

amalgam separator components need to be replaced. 

5. How much demand do you currently have for the polishing system? 

Not much. There is no law/statue/rule in the United States that requires a dental office to remove 

dissolved mercury. Toronto has a 10 ppb discharge limit for mercury but doesn’t enforce it because it is 

not possible to meet consistently. Therefore, there is not a demand for the system. 

6. Do you know what percentage of the total mercury is considered dissolved vs solids? 

2-3% of mercury is dissolved if you’re looking at a dental practice. They did a study for Gentle Dental 

in Massachusetts looking at concentrations of mercury and found that 2-3% of total mercury can still be 

a significant amount. 

7. Do you know where I can find information on chair side traps (costs, how many dentists have them, 

etc)? 

Chair side traps are integral to a dental chair so if they have a chair, they have a trap. The traps are 

maintained by cleaning out the solid particles by dumping them into a bucket or other storage device. 

The purpose of the chair side traps is to collect larger fragments immediately. Costs can be obtained 

from dental dealers. Google Dental Equipment Supply Companies and Henry Shine and Patterson 

Dental should be some of the first to pop up. 

Chair side traps and vacuum pumps work in tandem to remove mercury. ADA estimates that 78% of 

dental mercury is removed with only a chair side trap and vacuum pump. Canadians estimate that the 

percentage is more like 40-60% removal. There are two types of vacuum pumps – wet and dry. 75% of 

vacuum pumps in the US are wet, 25% are dry. Dry vacuum pumps provide a much larger water savings 

than the wet pumps. They are more environmentally friendly (because they use a lot less water) and they 

are more economical. Most dentists use wet pumps because that’s the way they have always done it and 

they don’t care to change. However, if there was a rule requiring dentists to install dry pumps or 

knowledge that they provide a large cost savings on water, then many dentists would change to the dry 

vacuum pumps. 

8. Can you please send me any pictures of the polishing system you may have? 

Mr. Dube` asked for me to send him an email and that he would get back to me with pictures. I sent the 

email at 4:45pm on 5/10/11. Please see attached email correspondence. 

I thanked Mr. Dube` for his time and told him I’d call back with any further questions.