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40 CFR § 61.51 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t40/s61.51"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "40 CFR § 61.51 - Definitions."
title_number: 40
title_name: "Protection of Environment"
section_number: "61.51"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "AIR PROGRAMS"
part_number: "61"
part_name: "NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 7401"
regulatory_source: "38 FR 8826, Apr. 6, 1973, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "61"
---

# 61.51 Definitions.

Terms used in this subpart are defined in the act, in subpart A of this part, or in this section as follows:

(a) *Mercury* means the element mercury, excluding any associated elements, and includes mercury in particulates, vapors, aerosols, and compounds.

(b) *Mercury ore* means a mineral mined specifically for its mercury content.

(c) *Mercury ore processing facility* means a facility processing mercury ore to obtain mercury.

(d) *Condenser stack gases* mean the gaseous effluent evolved from the stack of processes utilizing heat to extract mercury metal from mercury ore.

(e) *Mercury chlor-alkali cell* means a device which is basically composed of an electrolyzer section and a denuder (decomposer) section and utilizes mercury to produce chlorine gas, hydrogen gas, and alkali metal hydroxide.

(f) *Mercury chlor-alkali electrolyzer* means an electrolytic device which is part of a mercury chlor-alkali cell and utilizes a flowing mercury cathode to produce chlorine gas and alkali metal amalgam.

(g) *Denuder* means a horizontal or vertical container which is part of a mercury chlor-alkali cell and in which water and alkali metal amalgam are converted to alkali metal hydroxide, mercury, and hydrogen gas in a short-circuited, electrolytic reaction.

(h) *Hydrogen gas stream* means a hydrogen stream formed in the chlor-alkali cell denuder.

(i) *End box* means a container(s) located on one or both ends of a mercury chlor-alkali electrolyzer which serves as a connection between the electrolyzer and denuder for rich and stripped amalgam.

(j) *End box ventilation system* means a ventilation system which collects mercury emissions from the end-boxes, the mercury pump sumps, and their water collection systems.

(k) *Cell room* means a structure(s) housing one or more mercury electrolytic chlor-alkali cells.

(l) *Sludge* means sludge produced by a treatment plant that processes municipal or industrial waste waters.

(m) *Sludge dryer* means a device used to reduce the moisture content of sludge by heating to temperatures above 65 °C (ca. 150 °F) directly with combustion gases.

[38 FR 8826, Apr. 6, 1973, as amended at 40 FR 48302, Oct. 14, 1975]