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Investigating the Temporal Effects of Metal-Based Coagulants to Remove Mercury from Solution in the Presence of Dissolved Organic Matter

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Abstract

The presence of mercury (Hg), particularly methylmercury (MeHg), is a concern for both human and ecological health as MeHg is a neurotoxin and can bioaccumulate to lethal levels in upper trophic level organisms. Recent research has demonstrated that coagulation with metal-based salts can effectively remove both inorganic mercury (IHg) and MeHg from solution through association with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and subsequent flocculation and precipitation. In this study, we sought to further examine interactions between Hg and DOM and the resulting organo-metallic precipitate (floc) to assess if (1) newly added IHg could be removed to the same extent as ambient IHg or whether the association between IHg and DOM requires time, and (2) once formed, if the floc has the capacity to remove additional Hg from solution. Agricultural drainage water samples containing ambient concentrations of both DOM and IHg were spiked with a traceable amount of isotopically enriched IHg and dosed with ferric sulfate after 0, 1, 5, and 30 days. Both ambient and newly added IHg were removed within hours, with 69–79 % removed. To a separate sample set, isotopically enriched IHg was added to solution after floc had formed. Under those conditions, 81–95 % of newly added Hg was removed even at Hg concentrations 1000-fold higher than ambient levels. Results of this study indicate coagulation with ferric sulfate effectively removes both ambient and newly added IHg entering a system and suggests rapid association between IHg and DOM. This work also provides new information regarding the ability of floc to remove additional Hg from solution even after it has formed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the California Department of Water 475 Resource (Agreement #v4600003886). We would like to thank John DeWild and Tad Doane for their assistance with laboratory analyses and support.

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Author notes

  1. Yumiko Henneberry

    Present address: Delta Stewardship Council, Science Program, 980 9th street, Suite 1500, Sacramento, CA, 95814, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Land Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Yumiko Henneberry & William R. Horwath

  2. United States Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA

    Tamara E. C. Kraus

  3. United States Geological Survey, Mercury Research Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI, 53562, USA

    David P. Krabbenhoft

Authors
  1. Yumiko Henneberry
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  2. Tamara E. C. Kraus
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  3. David P. Krabbenhoft
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  4. William R. Horwath
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Correspondence to Yumiko Henneberry.

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Henneberry, Y., Kraus, T.E.C., Krabbenhoft, D.P. et al. Investigating the Temporal Effects of Metal-Based Coagulants to Remove Mercury from Solution in the Presence of Dissolved Organic Matter. Environmental Management 57, 220–228 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0601-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0601-2

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