Abstract
The dynamic change of redox conditions is a key factor in emission of elemental mercury (Hg0) from riparian soils. The objective of this study was to elucidate the influences of redox conditions on Hg0 emission from riparian soils. Soil suspension experiments were conducted to measure Hg0 emission from five Hg-contaminated soil samples in two redox conditions (i.e., treated with air or with N2). In four of the five samples, Hg0 emission was higher in air treatment than on N2 treatment. Remaining one soil, which has higher organic matter than other soils, showed no distinct difference in Hg0 production between air and N2 treatment. In soil suspensions subject to N2 treatment, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and Fe2+ concentrations were 3.38- to 1.34-fold and 1.44- to 2.28-fold higher than those in air treatment, respectively. Positive correlations were also found between the DOC and Fe2+ (r = 0.911, p < 0.01) and Hg2+ (r = 0.815, p < 0.01) concentrations in soil solutions, suggesting Fe2+ formation led to the release of DOC, which bound to Hg2+ in the soil and, in turn, limited the availability of Hg2+ for reduction to Hg0 in N2 treatment. On the other hand, for remaining one soil, more Hg2+ might be adsorbed onto the DOM in the air treatment, resulted in the inhibition of Hg0 production in air treatment. These results imply that the organic matter is important to prevent Hg0 production by changing redox condition. Further study is needed to prove the role of organic matter in the production of Hg0.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, [Shohei Riya], upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Edanz (https://jp.edanz.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.
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This work was supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (grant number 5–1905) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
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Shuting Zhao, Akihiko Terada, Makoto Nakashima, Takeshi Komai, and Shohei Riya conceived and planned the experiments. Shuting Zhao and Shohei Riya carried out the experiments. Masaaki Hosomi, Makoto Nakashima, Hong Hou, and Takeshi Komai contributed to sample preparation. Shuting Zhao, Akihiko Terada, and Shohei Riya contributed to the interpretation of the results. Shohei Riya took the lead in writing the manuscript.
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Zhao, S., Terada, A., Nakashima, M. et al. Elemental mercury production from contaminated riparian soil suspensions under air and nitrogen bubbling conditions. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33384-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33384-w