Removal of mercury from mercury-contaminated sediments using a combined method of chemical leaching and volatilization of mercury by bacteria.
A method for the removal of mercury sulfide from mercury-contaminated sediments was developed, which consists of chemical leaching and volatilization of mercury by bacteria. More than 85% of the mercury in sediment containing 0.11-37.4 mg/kg of mercury was efficiently extracted with 3 M HCl and 74 mM FeCl3. Subsequent volatilization by bacteria resulted in the removal of 62.9-75.1% of mercury from mercury-contaminated Minamata Bay sediments. Methylmercury was also eliminated from soil at a high efficiency. Thus, this combined method of chemical and microbial treatments could be used for efficient removal of both organic and inorganic mercurials from natural sediments.
Nakamura
K
K
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, National Institute for Minamata Disease, Kumamoto, Japan.
Hagimine
M
M
Sakai
M
M
Furukawa
K
K
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D007564:Japan; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D017669:Mercury Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D014835:Volatilization
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D017669:Mercury Compounds; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008628:Mercury