title: Microscopic and spectroscopic characterization of Hg(II) immobilization by mackinawite (FeS).
abstract: This study investigated the solid-phase Hg formed by reacting 0.005 or 0.01 M Hg(II) with 10 g/L mackinawite (FeS) as a function of pH in 0.2 M chloride solutions using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses. Under all experimental conditions, XRD analysis showed formation of metacinnabar (β-HgS) as a bulk-phase sorption product, in agreement with the results from high angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) in TEM analysis. HAADF-STEM and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses also suggested formation of Hg(II) surface precipitates. EXAFS analysis indicated that metacinnabar was the dominant product under most conditions, with Hg(II) chlorosulfide-like surface precipitates having increased contribution at lower Hg(II) concentration and higher pH. This finding is consistent with the results of desorption experiments using Hg(II)-complexing ligands. Considering the low solubility and high stability of metacinnabar, our results support the potential application of mackinawite for sequestering Hg(II) in anoxic environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea. hjeong@pusan.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hoon Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Kim F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D008628:Mercury; C022597:ferrous sulfide