The matrix dependent solubility and speciation of mercury

Abstract: The Swedish government has decided that waste containing more than 0.1% mercury is to be placed in a permanent repository in the bedrock1,10. To minimize the risk of spreading mercury, elemental mercury must first be converted into a practically insoluble compound. In a PhD investigation of stabilization attempts at SAKAB AB in Kumla favorable conditions for conversion of mercury to cinnabar (the sparingly soluble sulphide form of mercury and the naturally occurring mineral) was found. In a long-term study of diffusion of mercury it was found that water solubility of mercury varied much, from 0.05 to 5 μmolL-1. To be able to study the water solubility of mercury as detailed as possible a speciation method was developed and verified. This investigation includes how different parameters, like matrix properties and Hg0/solution ratios effects the solubility of mercury and how the different species are distributed in the water phase. The total solubility of mercury is very dependent of both the matrix properties and the Hg0/solution ratio. Aqueous elemental mercury (Hg0 aq) is not as matrix dependent as the oxidized species. However, trends show that a higher Hg0/solution ratio contributes to a higher solubility of Hg0 aq. Factors like time, pH, ionic strength and degree of stirring, greatly effects the total solubility of mercury. The concentration of the oxidized mercury species generated from elemental mercury increases over time and is very dependent on the properties of the matrix. After 18 hours the solubility of Hg0 aq ranges from 0.2 to 0.7 μmolL-1, depending on Hg0/solution ratio. The solubility for the oxidized species has a much larger variation, ranging from 0.1 to 28.6 μmolL-1. Among other things, because the composition and redox potential of the matrix plays an important role in what mercuric complexes can be expected to form, and contribute to the solubility.