Abstract
Environmental mercury methylation appears modulated by sulfide concentrations, possibly via changes in mercury availability to sulfate reducing bacteria, the major agents of this process in aquatic systems. Consequently, there has been much recent interest in quantifying the chemical speciation and lipid solubility of mercury in the presence of sulfide and of polysulfides, which form by reaction of sulfide with elemental sulfur or as intermediates in sulfur cycling. We quantify a large increase in the solubility of cinnabar (HgS(s)) in the presence of elemental sulfur, particularly at high pH. Based on our data and those of Paquette and Helz, we propose that the complex, Hg(Sx)22-, dominates the speciation of Hg(II) in such waters. At lower sulfide concentrations and at high pH, the data are best fitted by considering also the formation of the species HgSxOH-. Octanol−water distribution (Dow) experiments confirm the charged nature of the dominant mercury−polysulfide complexes and imply the presence of a minor lipophilic polysulfide complex, such as HgS5. The recently reported decrease in Dow with increasing sulfide concentration also occurs in the presence of polysulfides.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
