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Influences of Zero-Valent Sulfur on Mercury Methylation in Bacterial Cocultures

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Abstract

The speciation of mercury (Hg) is a major determinant of its methylation rate by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), considered the primary methylators. Under anoxic conditions, sulfur (S) cycling may have a significant influence on Hg complexation and methylation, by influencing both SRB activity and the pool of available reduced S ligands, as the presence of zero-valent sulfur (S(0)) in sulfidic water results in the formation of polysulfides. While SRB frequently coexist with S-oxidizing bacteria in natural environments, the effect that these organisms may have on methylation by SRB is not understood. In this study, we investigate the role of S(0) in methylation by SRB monocultures and cocultures with phototrophic green or purple S-oxidizing bacteria. In the coculture experiments, the presence of S-oxidizers was found to increase Hg methylation rates, apparently by maintaining favorable chemical speciation in the environment. The measured Hg methylation rates were in accord with predictions based on geochemical modeling of speciation. In SRB monoculture experiments conducted in the presence and absence of S(0), the data showed that at limited total Hg, the presence of polysulfides resulted in decreased Hg methylation, presumably by causing a decrease in the most bioavailable Hg–sulfide complexes. These results indicate that models of Hg speciation and methylation in the environment should include a detailed investigation of S redox speciation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a CAREER grant (BES-0348783) from the National Science Foundation to Jenny A. Jay. We thank all of our lab colleagues at UCLA for their constant support.

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  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UCLA, 5732H Boelter Hall, 420 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095, CA, USA

    Rita A. Kampalath, Chu-Ching Lin & Jennifer A. Jay

  2. Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Central University, No. 300, Jungda Rd, Jungli City, Taoyuan, 32001, Taiwan

    Chu-Ching Lin

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Kampalath, R.A., Lin, CC. & Jay, J.A. Influences of Zero-Valent Sulfur on Mercury Methylation in Bacterial Cocultures. Water Air Soil Pollut 224, 1399 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-012-1399-7

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