Mercury Contamination of Water and the Removal of Mercury from Water

Abstract

Mercury is a common element in nature. Mercury that is in compound form does not severely harm the environment and human being. However, when the mercury element is by itself, that is when its oxidation state is zero, it easily gets into the air or the water. And because the mercury is not in any compound form, nothing restricts its toxicity, it affects the environment and people’s health. Both anthropogenic reasons and natural factors lead to the mercury contamination in water. Coal combustion, zinc smelting, gold rushing, and mercury mining are the major anthropogenic reasons. And since mercury naturally exists in the nature, natural soil would release mercury, which then goes into water as rainwater or flows pass by. Removing mercury from water has been a focus in many places like Guizhou, China and Peru. Ion exchange resins adsorption and multifunctional chitosan non-woven fabrics modified with carbon dots (CDs) can be used. Ion exchange resins adsorption includes a wide variety of substrate. And with these binding agents, mercury, along with many other heavy metal ions, can be easily adsorbed. CDs are carbon nanoparticles that exhibit high sensitivity and good ability to fluoresce, With the modification with CDs, fabrics can change into a cheap and easy tool to remove mercury from water. Studying the removal of mercury contamination from water helps reduce gradual damage to the environment and to human bodies.