Complexation of mercury(II) ions with humic acids in tundra soils

• Published in: Eurasian soil science 2014-03, Vol.47 (3), p.162-172
• Main Authors: Vasilevich, R. S, Beznosikov, V. A, Lodygin, E. D, Kondratenok, B. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; chemical structure; coordination compounds; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Humic acids; Ions; Mercury; organic horizons; Peat; Peat soils; Phenols; pyrocatechol; shrubs; Soil Chemistry; Soils; sorption; Taiga & tundra; Tundra; tundra soils
• ISSN: 1064-2293; 1556-195X
• DOI: 10.1134/S1064229314030089

The interaction mechanisms of mercury(II) ions with preparations of humic acids (HAs) isolated from organic horizons of surface-gleyed soils (Haplic Stagnosol (Gelic, Siltic)) of shrub tundra and hydromorphic peat gley soils (Histic Cryosol (Reductaquic, Siltic)) of moss-lichen tundra have been studied. The particular features of the interactions between the mercury(II) ions and the HAs are related to the molecular structure of the HAs, the mercury concentration range, and the environmental parameters. The fixation of mercury(II) ions into stable coordination compounds is most efficient in the pH range of 2.5–3.5. At the element concentrations below 0.50 μmol/dm³, the main complexing sites of HAs are their peripheral aminoacid functional groups. Pyrocatechol, salicylate, and phenolic groups from the nuclear moiety of molecules interact in the concentration range of 0.0005–0.50 mmol/dm³; the physical sorption of mercury hydroxo complexes by the surface of HAs is the main process occurring in the system.