Mercury extraction from contaminated soils by L-Cysteine: species dependency and transformation processes
A new approach in soil remediation washing techniques is the use of l-cysteine based on the formation of organic complexes. In this study, the applicability of l-cysteine for the mobilisation of different mercury species from contaminated soils was evaluated. Soils were treated with l-cysteine solut...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2011
|
| In: |
Water, air & soil pollution
Year: 2011, Volume: 219, Pages: 175-189 |
| ISSN: | 1573-2932 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11270-010-0696-2 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-010-0696-2
|
| Author Notes: | Anne Bollen, Harald Biester |
| Summary: | A new approach in soil remediation washing techniques is the use of l-cysteine based on the formation of organic complexes. In this study, the applicability of l-cysteine for the mobilisation of different mercury species from contaminated soils was evaluated. Soils were treated with l-cysteine solutions with S-Hg molar ratios of 1, 2, 10, 20, 100 and 200. In 24 h batch experiments, leachates with water could mobilise 1% of Hg. The addition of l-cysteine led to an increase of Hg mobilisation of 42% for soils with inorganically bound Hg. In column experiments, the maximum Hg removal rate was 75%. For soils with organically bound Hg or HgS, only 1-5% of Hg was mobilised. Thus, the extraction of Hg from soils with l-cysteine is highly dependent on the Hg-binding form. Hg speciation analyses of leachates indicate that Hg-l-cysteine complexes are labile complexes which can be easily transformed. Soil samples speciation analysis revealed that reduction to elemental mercury takes place at low S-Hg ratios (1 to 10), assumingly by microbial activity. At higher S-Hg ratios of 10 and 100, precipitation of stable Hg-S complexes could be observed. These species transformation processes are limitations for considering l-cysteine leaching as a remediation strategy. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Gesehen am 06.04.2022 First published online: 24 November 2010 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1573-2932 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s11270-010-0696-2 |