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The aqueous reduction of divalent mercury by sulfite

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Abstract

Divalent Hg is reduced by sulfite in aqueous solutions. The proposed mechanism involves the formation of an instable intermediate, HgSO3, which decomposes to produce Hg+ which in turn is rapidly reduced to Hg0. The overall rate of the reaction is inversely dependent on the concentration of sulfite. This reaction may influence the concentration of Hg in cloud- and rain-water by reducing water soluble Hg2+ to volatile Hg0. At low concentrations of SO2(g) (5 μg m−3, 25 °C), the rate of the conversion of Hg(SO3)2 2− to Hg0 becomes significant (> 1 % h−1) at pH < 5.5. At higher S02 concentrations (500 pg m−3), the same rate is expected at pH < 4.5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Göteborg, S-412 96, Göteborg, Sweden

    J. Munthe, Z. F. Xiao & O. Lindqvist

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  1. J. Munthe
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  2. Z. F. Xiao
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  3. O. Lindqvist
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Munthe, J., Xiao, Z.F. & Lindqvist, O. The aqueous reduction of divalent mercury by sulfite. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 56, 621–630 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342304

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