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Investigation of the Potential for Mercury Release from Flue Gas Desulfurization Solids Applied as an Agricultural Amendment
Author(s) -
Briggs Christian W.,
Fine Rebekka,
Markee Melissa,
Gustin Mae Sexauer
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2012.0049
Subject(s) - amendment , soil water , flue gas desulfurization , gypsum , mercury (programming language) , environmental science , soil conditioner , fertilizer , chemistry , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , waste management , soil science , metallurgy , materials science , organic chemistry , political science , computer science , law , engineering , programming language
The potential for beneficial use of flue gas desulfurization–derived gypsum (FGDG), a coal combustion byproduct, as an agricultural soil amendment is currently being debated. This study investigated the hypothesis that Hg released to air from FGDG will be reduced when amended to planted and bare soils. The potential for enhanced methylmercury (MeHg) production and Hg uptake by plants in soils amended with FGDG was also investigated. Flue gas desulfurization–derived gypsum from three sources was homogenized into three soils at 4.5, 45, and 170 t ha −1 and applied at 4.9 t ha −1 as a thin layer to simulate tilled and no‐till applications, respectively. Twenty‐four‐hour Hg flux was measured from unamended and FGDG‐amended soils on a seasonal time step over 1 yr and after disturbing, watering, and planting. Methylmercury in soil, irrigation drainage, and total Hg in plant tissues were quantified. Results should be interpreted within the confines of the experimental setting and materials used for this study. Total Hg concentrations in soils, homogenized with FGDG, were below that considered representative of soil with background values (<100 ng g −1 ). Emissions from amended soils were higher initially relative to unamended soils but became similar over time. Significantly less Hg (2%) was lost to the air from FGDG‐amended soils (90 g FGDG added for lowest application) than that released from the FGDG alone (30–70%) (50 g FGDG) over 1 yr. Total Hg and MeHg in irrigation drainage and total Hg concentrations measured in plants were similar for amended and unamended soils.