Title: | Removal of mercury from mercury-contaminated sediments using a combined method of chemical leaching and volatilization of mercury by bacteria |
Author(s): | Nakamura K; Hagimine M; Sakai M; Furukawa K; |
Address: | "Department of Basic Medical Sciences, National Institute for Minamata Disease, Kumamoto, Japan" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0923-9820 (Print) 0923-9820 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "A method for the removal of mercury sulfide from mercury-contaminated sediments was developed, which consists of chemical leaching and volatilization of mercury by bacteria. More than 85% of the mercury in sediment containing 0.11-37.4 mg/kg of mercury was efficiently extracted with 3 M HCl and 74 mM FeCl3. Subsequent volatilization by bacteria resulted in the removal of 62.9-75.1% of mercury from mercury-contaminated Minamata Bay sediments. Methylmercury was also eliminated from soil at a high efficiency. Thus, this combined method of chemical and microbial treatments could be used for efficient removal of both organic and inorganic mercurials from natural sediments" |
Keywords: | "Bacteria/isolation & purification/*metabolism Biodegradation, Environmental Environmental Pollutants/*metabolism Geologic Sediments/*chemistry/*microbiology Japan Mercury/*metabolism Mercury Compounds/metabolism Sodium Chloride/pharmacology Volatilization;" |
Notes: | "MedlineNakamura, K Hagimine, M Sakai, M Furukawa, K eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2000/11/09 Biodegradation. 1999; 10(6):443-7. doi: 10.1023/a:1008329511391" |