Sources and remediation techniques for mercury contaminated soil

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Geochemistry
• Soil Science

Background:

• Mercury (Hg) concentrations in soils have increased 3-10 fold recently, primarily from fossil fuel combustion and atmospheric transport.
• Anthropogenic sources like chlor-alkali plants, gold mining, and cement production also contribute significantly to local soil Hg contamination.
• Understanding Hg sources and mobilization factors is critical for effective soil remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize natural and anthropogenic sources of increased soil Hg.
• To review major remediation techniques for controlling soil Hg contamination.
• To discuss factors influencing Hg mobilization and their role in remediation optimization.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of natural and anthropogenic Hg sources.
• Review of major soil remediation techniques: soil washing, stabilization/solidification, thermal treatment, and biological methods.
• Discussion of factors influencing Hg mobilization in soil.

Main Results:

• Fossil fuel combustion and atmospheric transport are primary drivers of increased soil Hg.
• Various remediation techniques exist, each with specific applications and influencing factors.
• Bioremediation shows promise but requires further field implementation research.

Conclusions:

• Effective soil Hg remediation requires understanding both contamination sources and Hg mobilization dynamics.
• Further research into bioremediation and field-scale application of techniques is encouraged.
• Optimizing remediation strategies necessitates considering site-specific conditions and influencing factors.