Abstract
In gold mining regions in the Global South, elemental mercury was historically used to extract gold, and some artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations still employ this metal. While much of this legacy contamination remains in sediment layers, Hg has also been measured in drinking water sources containing dissolved organic matter (DOM). This study evaluated the influence of the composition and characteristics of DOM on the removal of inorganic divalent [Hg(II)] in alum-based coagulation systems. Five natural organic matter isolates were used for experimentation at low and high mercury concentrations. Samples were selected based on the differences in aromaticity, functional group concentrations, geographical location, and commercial availability. Results showed that at a low Hg/DOM ratio, mercury removal can be as high as 95%, while at a high Hg/DOM ratio the maximum removal obtained was 73%. The fact that the sample low in aromaticity but high in reduced sulfur ligands (Sred) achieved high mercury removal efficiency suggests that most of these ligands for Hg(II) complexation are located in the most hydrophobic portion of the DOM. Indeed, SUVA254 values in the treated water decrease after coagulation, and Hg(II) removal exceeds DOM removal at low Hg(II)/DOM ratios. When the Hg(II) concentration is high enough that the available strong ligands approach Hg(II) saturation, then weaker binding functional groups [which are likely associated with aromatic DOM fractions that sorb less to Al(OH)3(s)] play a significant role in Hg(II) partitioning between Hg-DOM complexes in solution and Hg-DOM complexes on the Al(OH)3(s) surface.
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Diaz Arriaga, F.A., Katz, L.E. & Lawler, D.F. Mercury–dissolved organic matter interactions: insights on the removal of both pollutants in conventional drinking water treatment. Aquat Sci 85, 64 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-023-00950-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-023-00950-2