Immobilization of mercury by pyrite (FeS 2)

Elemental mercury (Hg 0) is a metal with a number of atypical properties, which has resulted in its use in myriad anthropogenic processes. However, these same properties have also led to severe local subsurface contamination at many places where it has been used. As such, we studied the influence of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental pollution (1987) 2008-11, Vol.156 (2), p.504-514
Main Authors: Bower, Julia, Savage, Kaye S., Weinman, Beth, Barnett, Mark O., Hamilton, William P., Harper, Willie F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorptiometry, Photon
Adsorption
Applied sciences
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Environmental Pollutants - analysis
Environmental Pollutants - chemistry
Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods
Exact sciences and technology
groundwater contamination
Groundwaters
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Iron - analysis
Iron - chemistry
Mercury
Mercury - analysis
Mercury - chemistry
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Natural water pollution
Pollution
Pollution, environment geology
Pyrite
pyrites
Quartz
Remediation
sorption
Sulfide
Sulfides - analysis
Sulfides - chemistry
Time
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Elemental mercury (Hg 0) is a metal with a number of atypical properties, which has resulted in its use in myriad anthropogenic processes. However, these same properties have also led to severe local subsurface contamination at many places where it has been used. As such, we studied the influence of various parameters on Hg(II) sorption onto pyrite (pH, time, Hg(II) concentration), a potential subsurface reactive barrier. Batch sorption studies revealed that total Hg(II) removal increases with both pH and time. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis showed that a transformation in the coordination environment at low pH occurred during aging over 2 weeks, to form an ordered monolayer of monodentate Hg–Cl complexes on pyrite. In column studies packed with pure quartz sand, the transport of Hg(II) was significantly retarded by the presence of a thin pyrite-sand reactive barrier, although dissolved oxygen inhibited Hg(II) sorption onto pyrite in the column. Pyrite may be an effective subsurface reactive barrier for Hg in groundwater.
ISSN:0269-7491
1873-6424
DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.011