Immobilization of mercury by pyrite (FeS 2)

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 156; no. 2; pp. 504 - 514
• Main Authors: Bower, Julia, Savage, Kaye S., Weinman, Beth, Barnett, Mark O., Hamilton, William P., Harper, Willie F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Absorptiometry, Photon; Adsorption; Applied sciences; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Exact sciences and technology; groundwater contamination; Groundwaters; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Iron - analysis; Iron - chemistry; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Mercury - chemistry; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Pyrite; pyrites; Quartz; Remediation; sorption; Sulfide; Sulfides - analysis; Sulfides - chemistry; Time; Water treatment and pollution; Sulfide; Pyrite; Remediation; Mercury; Mercury II; Immobilization; Zerovalent metal; Permeable reactive barrier; Iron sulfide; Heavy metal; X ray absorption spectrometry; Decontamination; Water pollution; Ground water
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.011

Elemental mercury (Hg 0) is a metal with a number of atypical properties, which has resulted in its use in myriad anthropogenic processes. However, these same properties have also led to severe local subsurface contamination at many places where it has been used. As such, we studied the influence of various parameters on Hg(II) sorption onto pyrite (pH, time, Hg(II) concentration), a potential subsurface reactive barrier. Batch sorption studies revealed that total Hg(II) removal increases with both pH and time. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis showed that a transformation in the coordination environment at low pH occurred during aging over 2 weeks, to form an ordered monolayer of monodentate Hg–Cl complexes on pyrite. In column studies packed with pure quartz sand, the transport of Hg(II) was significantly retarded by the presence of a thin pyrite-sand reactive barrier, although dissolved oxygen inhibited Hg(II) sorption onto pyrite in the column. Pyrite may be an effective subsurface reactive barrier for Hg in groundwater.