Removal of Mercury from Low-Concentration Aqueous Streams Using Chemical Reduction and Air Stripping
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 9
Abstract
Field, laboratory, and engineering data confirmed the efficacy of chemical reduction and air stripping as a low concentration mercury treatment concept for water containing Hg(II). The process consists of dosing the water with low levels of stannous chloride [Sn(II)] to convert the mercury to elemental mercury can easily be removed from the water by air stripping or sparging. We studied this concept for groundwater containing initial mercury concentrations of approximately 138 ng/L (0.00069 μmol/L). In undosed samples, sparging removed 0% of the initial mercury. Removal in the treated samples varied by reagent dose. Low reagent doses, with Sn:Hg stoichiometric ratios <1, showed little removal. High reagent doses, with Sn:Hg stoichiometric ratios greater than about 5 to 25, showed relatively complete removal (>94%) and yielded final mercury concentrations <10 ng/L (<0.00005 μmol/L). At intermediate doses, mercury removal was a function of the dose. A kinetic study indicated that addition of the Sn(II) reagent resulted in rapid reduction of Hg(II) to When combined with standard supporting engineering techniques (e.g., treating the purge air) as needed, a simple system of chemical reduction and stripping may be useful and cost effective.
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Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 10, 2002
Accepted: Oct 28, 2002
Published online: Aug 15, 2003
Published in print: Sep 2003
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