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The response of mercury (Hg) transformation in soil to sulfur compounds and sulfur-rich biowaste application

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Abstract

The mobility of mercury and its transformation as affected by different sulfur-rich amendments were investigated in a model laboratory incubation experiment. Two soils, Chernozem and Luvisol, differing in their physicochemical characteristics, were selected for the experiment. The soils were artificially contaminated with Hg by adding HgCl2 solution to a final concentration of 12 mg kg−1 of Hg in the soils. Subsequently, organic and inorganic amendments: (1) (NH4)2SO4, (2) l-cysteine, and (3) digestate, a biowaste from a biogas station, were applied and the soils were incubated for 21 days in the dark. Soil samples were collected after 1, 7, 14 and 21 days of incubation. At the individual sampling times 30 g of each soil was collected for determinations of pH, the mobile Hg pool, carbon derived from microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase activity. The results confirmed the important role of digestate application leading to (1) improved nutrient status and microbiological activity in the contaminated soils and (2) an increased proportion of methylmercury in the soils as well as a decrease in mercury volatilization. These findings suggested that digestate could be applied to Hg contaminated soil for effective stabilization of this element in the soil. However, long-term experiments are necessary for an evaluation of further potential Hg transformations due to the decomposition of digestate-bearing organic matter.

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Acknowledgments

Authors thank for financial support of the GAČR project P503/12/0682, ESF and MŠMT project No. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0040, and Czech University of Life Science project No. 21140/1313/3130; correction and improvement of language was provided by Proof-Reading-Service.com Ltd., Devonshire Business Centre, Works Road, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1GJ, UK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 21, Prague, Czech Republic

    Jiřina Száková, Andrea Burešová, Lukáš Praus, Mercedes García-Sánchez, Zlata Holečková & Pavel Tlustoš

  2. Institute of Microbiology, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20, Prague 4, Czech Republic

    Jiří Gabriel

  3. AAS Laboratory, University of Chemistry and Technology, 166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic

    Jiřina Sysalová

  4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

    Rostislav Červenka & Josef Komárek

  5. National Institute of Public Health, Šrobárova 48, 100 42, Prague 10, Czech Republic

    Slávka Grohová

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  1. Jiřina Száková
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  2. Andrea Burešová
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  3. Lukáš Praus
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Correspondence to Jiřina Száková.

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Száková, J., Burešová, A., Praus, L. et al. The response of mercury (Hg) transformation in soil to sulfur compounds and sulfur-rich biowaste application. Environ Earth Sci 75, 584 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5387-x

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