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A New Method for Mercury Removal

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Abstract

A method is desibed for the removal of mercury from solution by using the off-gas produced from aerobic cultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae M426. Cells growing in Hg-supplemented medium produced a black precipitate containing mercury and sulphur. The ratio of Hg:S was determined as ~1:1 by analysis using proton-induced X-ray emission, suggesting precipitation of HgS within the culture. The outlet gases produced by a mercury-unsupplemented aerated culture were bubbled into an external chamber supplemented with up to 10 mg HgCl2/ml. A yellowish-white precipitate formed, corresponding to 99% removal of the mercury from solution within 120 min. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that this metal precipitate consisted of mercury, carbon and sulphur. Formation of mercury carbonate was discounted since similar precipitation occurred at pH 2 and no oxygen was detected in the solid, which gave an X-ray powder pattern suggesting an amorphous material, with no evidence of HgS. Precipitation of mercury with a volatile organosulphur compound is suggested. Bio-precipitation of heavy metals by using culture off-gas is a useful approach because it can be used with concentrated or physiologically incompatible solutions. Since the metal precipitate is kept separate from the bacterial biomass, it can be managed independently.

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  1. School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK

    Ashraf M. M. Essa, Lynne E. Macaskie & Nigel L. Brown

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  1. Ashraf M. M. Essa
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  2. Lynne E. Macaskie
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  3. Nigel L. Brown
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Correspondence to Lynne E. Macaskie.

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Essa, A.M.M., Macaskie, L.E. & Brown, N.L. A New Method for Mercury Removal. Biotechnol Lett 27, 1649–1655 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-005-2722-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-005-2722-9

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