Concentrations Of Mercury Compounds Research Articles

Comparative analysis of the sources of mercury concentration formation in the water of the Paatsjoki River basin

Abstract. We overview the content of mercury compounds in ore formations, the deposit development of which is the source of mercury compounds entering the environment. The vast majority of mercury in pyritic ores passes into concentrates and is taken in this composition for processing; only a small amount of it (up to 2 7% of the total amount in ores) goes into processing waste that is stored in tailings dams. We analyze the mercury concentrations in the water objects in the Paatsjoki River basin, the watershed of which is associated both with the Monchegorsk copper-nickel deposit where the mercury concentration can reach 9 g/t and with the production sites of PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel. From 2017 to 2020, the concentration of mercury compounds in the water of the cascade of reservoirs on the Paatsjoki River, in the transborder sections of the Russian Federation border with Finland and Norway, increased evenly from the earlier to the later time of reservoir creation. The concentrations of mercury compounds in the waters of reservoirs generally exceeded the concentrations in the water of the Kolosjoki River at the observation site of the Nickel settlement in the area of the JSC Kola MMC activity. We conclude that the activation of microbial processes occurring in the bottom sediments during the formation of reservoirs with the increase in the amount of organic matter received and under certain geochemical conditions in the region affect the levels of mercury concentrations in the water.

Distribution of the total and dissolved mercury concentrations at the Irkutsk city snow sampling during winter 2021-2022

Abstract. We took 41 samples for a quantitative assessment of the total and dissolved mercury concentrations in the snow of the city of Irkutsk during winter 2021-2022. The maximum concentration of total mercury was recorded near the Eternal Flame memorial (248 ng/dm3); the minimum concentration was 6 ng/dm3 at the Jewish cemetery. The maximum concentration of dissolved mercury was recorded near the Aviation Plant (11.5 ng/dm3), and the minimum near the Maratovskoye traffic circle and Secondary School No. 66 (0.1 ng/dm3). In four samples, we did not detect dissolved mercury. Determining the mass concentration of mercury revealed that the concentrations of mercury compounds in the snow from Irkutsk were much lower than the MPC. Based on the results of the analysed samples, we created a cartographic material.

Determination of Mercury Compounds in Water Samples by Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry With anIn Situ Nebulizer/Vapor Generator

A preliminary study of a cold vapor generation system as the sample introduction device for liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC–ICP-MS) is described. Samples containing ionic mercury compounds were subjected to chromatographic separation before injection into the cold vapor generator. The species studied include inorganic mercury (Hg II ), methylmercury and ethylmercury. The sensitivity, detection limits and repeatability of the LC–ICP-MS system with a cold vapor generator were comparable to or better than those for an LC–ICP-MS system with conventional pneumatic nebulization or other sample introduction techniques. The limits of detection for various mercury species were in the range 0.03–0.11 ng ml -1 Hg based on peak height. The concentrations of mercury compounds in open ocean sea-water reference material NASS-4 and a tap water sample collected from National Sun Yat-Sen University were determined.

Effects of mercury compounds on soil microbes

Even low concentrations of mercury compounds in agar media strongly decreased the number of soil microbes that could be isolated on these media. Mercury compounds added to the soil in very high concentrations inhibited CO2-evolution, dehydrogenase activity, and nitrification. In contrast, the number of microbes increased somewhat in a clay soil treated with HgCl2. Phenylmercury acetate had a stronger inhibiting effect than HgCl2. In sandy soil the microbial processes were inhibited more strongly than in clay soil. Mercury compounds present in the soil or added in low concentrations are not expected to seriously disturb organic-matter breakdown, nitrogen mineralization, or the soil-microbe numbers.

Maximum allowable concentrations of mercury compounds.

Maximum allowable concentrations of mercury compounds.