Removal and preconcentration of inorganic and methyl mercury from aqueous media using a sorbent prepared from the plant Coriandrum sativum.
A sorbent prepared from the plant Coriandrum sativum, commonly known as coriander or Chinese parsley, was observed to remove inorganic (Hg2+) and methyl mercury (CH3Hg+) from aqueous solutions with good efficiency. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the pH dependency in the range 1-10 and the time profiles of sorption for both the species. Removal of both the forms of mercury from spiked ground water samples was found to be efficient and not influenced by other ions. Column experiments with silica-immobilized coriander demonstrated that the sorbent is capable of removing considerable amounts of both forms of mercury from water. The sorption behaviour indicates the major role of carboxylic acid groups in binding the mercury. The studies suggest that the sorbent can be used for the decontamination of inorganic and methyl mercury from contaminated waters.
Karunasagar
D
D
National Center for Compositional Characterization of Materials, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy, ECIL Post, Hyderabad 500062, India. aruncccm@rediffmail.com
Krishna
M V Balarama
MV
Rao
S V
SV
Arunachalam
J
J
D000327:Adsorption; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D028526:Coriandrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D008767:Methylmercury Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
D008767:Methylmercury Compounds; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014873:Water Pollutants