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METHYLMERCURY: PHOTOCHEMICAL TRANSFORMATION OF MERCURIC SULFIDE INTO METHYLMERCURY IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS 1
Author(s) -
Akagi Hirokatsu,
Fujita Yuzaburo,
Takabatake Eigo
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1977.tb07498.x
Subject(s) - sulfide , chemistry , aqueous solution , photochemistry , inorganic chemistry , sulfur , methylmercury , dissolution , ion , irradiation , lead sulfide , electrolyte , electrode , selenium , materials science , organic chemistry , physics , nuclear physics , quantum dot , nanotechnology
. The photochemical reaction of mercuric sulfide was studied in aqueous solutions. The photo‐solubilization of mercuric sulfide occurred under irradiation with light of ≤650nm and was enhanced in the presence of oxygen and electrolytes. The resultant mercuric ions were easily methylated in the presence of acetate ions via the photosensitized reaction by the simultaneously produced “photo‐sulfur” under irradiation with light of ≤420nm. The photoelectrochemical studies of mercuric sulfide electrode revealed that black mercuric sulfide was an n ‐type semiconductor and the photo‐current due to the dissolution as mercuric ions was observed on anodic polarization. The photo‐solubilization of mercuric sulfide may be interpreted in terms of the local‐cell mechanism.