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Mercury Reduction by Nanoparticulate Vivianite.
Marjorie Etique1, Sylvain Bouchet1, James M Byrne2
1Soil Chemistry Group, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, CHN, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Environmental Science & Technology
|February 8, 2021
Summary
The mineral vivianite efficiently reduces toxic mercury (HgII) to elemental mercury (Hg0) in iron-rich environments. This process may impact mercury
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Mineralogy
Background:
- Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element dispersed globally, posing environmental risks.
- Hg can transform into volatile elemental mercury (Hg0) or neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg), accumulating in food webs.
- Iron(II) minerals like magnetite and siderite are known to reduce Hg(II).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the Hg(II) reducing potential of the ferrous iron phosphate mineral vivianite.
- To determine if vivianite plays a role in mercury cycling in natural environments.
Main Methods:
- Chemically synthesized nanoparticulate vivianite (>98% Fe(II) content).
- Characterization using chemical, spectroscopic, and microscopic analyses.
- Investigation of Hg(II) reduction by vivianite at circumneutral pH under anoxic conditions with varying Fe(II)/Hg(II) ratios.
Main Results:
- Vivianite efficiently reduced Hg(II) to Hg(0) at Fe(II)/Hg(II) ratios ≥1.
- Vivianite's Hg(II) reducing capacity is comparable to effective minerals like green rust and siderite.
- Reduction occurred quickly and efficiently under tested conditions.
Conclusions:
- Vivianite is a significant abiotic Hg(II) reducer in Fe- and organic/P-rich soils and sediments.
- Vivianite activity may influence mercury evasion to the atmosphere.
- Vivianite may limit methylmercury (MeHg) formation in these ecosystems.
