Mercury Speciation In Water Research Articles

Microcolumn preconcentration and gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (GC-MIP-AES) for mercury speciation in waters

A novel method for the direct determination of mercury species at the ng l−1 level in natural waters is described. Methyl-, ethyl- and inorganic mercury are preconcentrated on a sulphhydryl cotton microcolumn incorporated in a flow injection system. Retained mercury species are then eluted with hydrochloric acid solution (3 mol/l) and subjected to phenylation before determination by gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Limits of detection for mercury species are 10 ng l−1 for methyl- and ethyl-mercury and 16 ng l−1 for inorganic mercury based on processing 200 ml of sample. Application of the methodology to waters of the Manchester Ship Canal revealed elevated levels of methylmercury and inorganic mercury.

Microcolumn Field Sampling and Flow Injection-Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry for Speciation of Mercury in Surface Waters

Abstract A novel approach to mercury speciation in waters based on microcolumn field sampling and flow injection-atomic fluorescence spectrometry is described. Microcolumns of sulphydryl cotton are used as a new sampling tool in order to collect, enrich and immobilise organic mercury species. On return to the laboratory the microcolumns are inserted into the flow injection system for elution/quantitative analysis. The technique, applied to survey analyses of the Manchester Ship Canal, revealed relatively high concentrations of organomercury (0.006–0.058 μg Hg 1−1) and inorganic mercury (0.0038–0.530 μg Hg 1−1). The distribution profiles for the inorganic and organic fractions did not correlate well.

Mercury Speciation in Water

Speciation of mercury in water and in the air above the water was studied. The effects of hydrogen peroxide, bacterial growth medium, and both living and dead bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were tested. Both living and dead bacteria transport metallic mercury from water into air. The amount of total Hg produced in the head space was similar in living or dead bacterial and hydrogen peroxide systems, [Formula: see text]. Hydrogen peroxide stabilized Hg2+ in the system. Partition coefficients were calculated from the corrected concentrations in the head space using literature solubility values for air/water phases. It is possible that Hg0 could be produced biologically or/and abiologically in a microenvironment within suspended particulate matter under favorable conditions. Further movement into air or subsequent transformation would depend on the physicochemical properties of the bulk water.Key words: mercury speciation, water, bacterial growth medium, living and dead bacteria

The biogeochemical cycle of mercury in the mediterranean

Abstract A study of mercury speciation in waters contributing to the knowledge of its biogeochemical cycle in the Mediterranean is reported. Data are presented on mercury concentrations in particulate and dissolved fractions in waters of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea. The results show that particulate matter plays a role of primary importance on the’ amount and distribution of this metal in waters.