Abstract
The presence of humic substances in aqueous systems generally has a large impact on speciation as well as on mobility of metal ions at trace levels. At pH<pHzpc, the humic substances tend to adsorb and enhance the uptake of trace metals from the solution phase. At pH>pHzpc, the reverse effect is expected. Experimental data on the adsorption of Hg on an oxide (alumina) in the presence of a fulvic acid (FA; 0 to 25 mg L−1) is reported in the present work. Generally the presence of the FA enhances the Hg adsorption in the whole pH-range studied (2.5 to 9.5). A Hg-FA complex is the dominant species already in the presence of 1 mg L−1 FA in the solution phase. Chloride increases the adsorption at pH<pHZpc possibly related to the formation of the negatively charged HgCl3 − species. The Hg adsorption is compared with Zn and Cd in the corresponding systems. The mobility of these bivalent metals in the aqueous environment is discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Cheam, V. and Gamble, D.S.: 1974, Can. J. Soil Sci. 54, 413.
Dalland, C., Schumacher, E. and Sohn, M.L.: 1986, ACS Symp. Ser. 305, 369.
Ephraim, J.H., Boren, H., Arsenie, I., Pettersson, C. and Allard, B.: 1989, Sci. Total Environ. 81/82, 615.
Forbes, E.A., Posner, A.M. and Quirk, J.P.: 1974, J. Colloid and Interface Sci. 49, 403.
Farrah, H. and Pickering, W.F.: 1978, Water Air Soil Poll. 9, 23.
Högfeldt, E.: 1983, Stability Constants of Metal-ion Complexes — Part A: Inorganic Ligands, IUPAC Chemical Data Series, No. 21, Pergamon Press.
Kemdorff, H. and Schnitzer, M.: 1980, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 44, 1702.
Kinniburgh, D.G. and Jackson, M.L.: 1978, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 42, 45.
Li, C.S. and Liu, C.I.: 1982, Huanjing Huaxue 1, 304.
Lockwood, R.A. and Chen, K.Y.: 1973, Environ. Sci. Technol. 7, 1028.
Lockwood, R.A. and Chen, K.Y.: 1974, Environ. Letters 6, 151.
Macnaughton, M.C. and James, R.O.: 1974, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 47, 431.
Millward, G.E. and Burton, J.D.: 1975, Marine Sci. Comm. 1, 15.
Newton, D.W., Ellis, R. and Paulsen, G.M.: 1976, J. Environ. Qual. 5, 251.
Sen, A.K. and De, A.K.: 1987, Water Res. 21, 885.
Strohal, P. and Huljev, D.: 1971, ‘Investigation of mercury-pollution interaction with humic acids by means of radiotracers’, Nuclear Techniques in Environmental Pollution, IAEA, Vienna, p. 439.
Wang, J.S., Huang, P.M., Hammer, U.T. and Liaw, W.K.: 1985, Water Poll. Res. J. Canada 20, 68.
Zvonarev, B.A.; 1982, Deposited Doc., Viniti 286-83, 48.
Zvonarev, B.A. and Zyrin, N.G.: 1982, Vestu. Mosk. Univ. Ser. 17, Pochvoved 4, 43.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xu, H., Allard, B. Effects of a fulvic acid on the speciation and mobility of mercury in aqueous solutions. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 56, 709–717 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342311
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342311