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Potential of Brass to Remove Inorganic Hg(II) from Aqueous Solution through Amalgamation
Author(s) -
Wenke Axel,
Bollen Anne,
Richard JanHelge,
Biester Harald
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143016x14504669768813
Subject(s) - brass , mercury (programming language) , chemistry , aqueous solution , kinetics , desorption , volumetric flow rate , analytical chemistry (journal) , metallurgy , adsorption , chromatography , materials science , copper , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
Brass shavings (CuZn45) were tested for their efficiency to remove Hg(II) from contaminated groundwater through amalgamation. The study was focused on long‐term retention efficiency, the understanding of the amalgamation process and kinetics, and influences of filter surface alteration. Column tests were performed with brass filters (thickness 3 to 9 cm) flushed with 1000 μg/L Hg solution for 8 hours under different flow rates (300 to 600 mL/h). Brass filters consistently removed >98% of Hg from solution independent of filter thickness and flow rate. In a long‐term experiment (filter thickness 2 cm), Hg retention decreased from 96 to 92% within 2000 hours. Batch and column experiments for studying kinetics of Hg removal indicate ~100% Hg removal from solution within only 2 hours. Solid‐phase mercury thermo‐desorption analysis revealed that Hg(0) diffusion into the brass surface controls kinetics of mercury retention. Brass surface alteration could be observed, but did not influence Hg retention.