Investigating the Temporal Effects of Metal-Based Coagulants to Remove Mercury from Solution in the Presence of Dissolved Organic Matter

Environmental Management
Yumiko K HenneberryWilliam R Horwath

Abstract

The presence of mercury (Hg), particularly methylmercury (MeHg), is a concern for both human and ecological health as MeHg is a neurotoxin and can bioaccumulate to lethal levels in upper trophic level organisms. Recent research has demonstrated that coagulation with metal-based salts can effectively remove both inorganic mercury (IHg) and MeHg from solution through association with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and subsequent flocculation and precipitation. In this study, we sought to further examine interactions between Hg and DOM and the resulting organo-metallic precipitate (floc) to assess if (1) newly added IHg could be removed to the same extent as ambient IHg or whether the association between IHg and DOM requires time, and (2) once formed, if the floc has the capacity to remove additional Hg from solution. Agricultural drainage water samples containing ambient concentrations of both DOM and IHg were spiked with a traceable amount of isotopically enriched IHg and dosed with ferric sulfate after 0, 1, 5, and 30 days. Both ambient and newly added IHg were removed within hours, with 69-79 % removed. To a separate sample set, isotopically enriched IHg was added to solution after floc had formed. Under those conditions, 81-9...Continue Reading

References

Mar 7, 2001·Water Research·M J Pullin, S E Cabaniss
Sep 7, 2002·Environmental Science & Technology·Markus HaitzerJoseph N Ryan
Mar 29, 2003·The Science of the Total Environment·Mattias BäckströmBert Allard
Feb 28, 2004·Chemosphere·Mahalingam Ravichandran
Feb 19, 2005·Environmental Geochemistry and Health·Mark C Gabriel, Derek G Williamson
Apr 6, 2007·Ambio·Donna MerglerUNKNOWN Panel on Health Risks and Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury
Sep 29, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Reed C HarrisMichael T Tate
Dec 24, 2008·Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry·Kate L Crump, Vance L Trudeau
Mar 3, 2009·Environmental Pollution·Jason A DittmanJanet E Towse
Dec 24, 2009·Environmental Science & Technology·Carrie L MillerBaohua Gu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 16, 2018·Chemosphere·Philip A M BachandWilliam R Horwath

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Blood Clotting Disorders

Thrombophilia includes conditions with increased tendency for excessive blood clotting. Blood clotting occurs when the body has insufficient amounts of specialized proteins that make blood clot and stop bleeding. Here is the latest research on blood clotting disorders.