混汞法采金地区的汞污染研究进展

混汞法是一种设备简单、操作简便且应用历史悠久的提金方法，在世界范围内得到了普遍使用，同时也导致了严重的汞污染。本文介绍了混汞法的流程以及汞的释放过程和释放因子；综述了应用混汞法提金的不同国家和地区，对由此引发的大气、水体、生物(包括人体)和土壤汞污染的研究现状，并讨论了采金地区的环境管理政策。     

中国汞污染现状及防治

在综合中国汞的生产、进口及加工利用状况的基础上 ,结合对汞加工利用行业的现场调查结果 ,从汞的加工利用或使用、燃煤释放的汞及土法炼汞等方面分析了中国汞的主要污染途径 ;从主要河流和海域阐述了中国汞污染的现状。最后提出了汞污染防治的对策和建议     

汞污染载金炭间接加热-N2吹扫脱汞研究

采用间接加热-N2吹扫法,对汞污染载金炭中汞的脱除进行试验研究.主要考察了吹扫方式、焙烧温度、N2流量和处理时间对汞脱除效果的影响.结果表明,采用床层内部吹扫方式有利于载金炭中汞的脱除;在550℃、N2 1.6 m3/h·kg、吹扫3 h条件下,能够将载金炭中汞含量由13.833 g/kg降低至0.002 g/kg,汞脱除率达到99.98%以上,而炭烧损率仅1.84%.另外,进行了2种二段法脱汞试验研究:高温蒸汞-N2吹扫法和空气吹扫-N2吹扫法.结果表明,与一段法相比,前者能够大大降低N2的消耗量;而后者没有明显优势,N2用量和能耗均未能明显降低.     

贵州地区大气汞污染及湿法脱硫装置除汞效果的初步评价

2004年冬季在贵州地区对大气中气态元素汞进行了大范围的流动监测调查,重点监测电厂分布地区及东部汞采冶加工地区,结果表明,气态元素汞浓度的高值出现在汞化工区和金矿区;在广大农村地区和小县城附近,大气汞浓度大都在100 ng/m3范围内.同期还进行了大气颗粒物汞的采样和分析,结果表明,监测到的大气颗粒物的汞浓度水平＜3 ng/m3,与国内其他一些城市相当;细颗粒物中汞的富集度高,粒径＜2.2 μm的颗粒物汞占60%～80%.此外,实测了采用石灰-石膏法脱硫电厂的燃煤汞平衡,评价了汞去除效果,结果表明,燃煤中的汞大约20%留在灰渣中,石灰-石膏脱去约20%,约59%的汞通过烟气排放到空气中.     

汞污染前后的对比调查研究

氧化汞和氧化亚汞生产过程中造成严重的汞污染，由于气型污染，被土壤吸附，蓄积形成１４７ｍ污染半径，汞污染前后调查研究对比，土壤、蔬菜、鱼、地面水中汞残留超过正常范围。对汞污染后危害特点进行讨论，提出相应的建议。     

汞化合物的生物检测技术

为了对环境中的汞污染进行现场检测 ,需要开发简便、快速、灵敏的分析方法。生物检测技术是其中的一个重要研究方向。在分析中 ,对现有的汞化合物主要生物检测技术的原理、特点、研究现状及应用前景进行了评价     

基于SCI论文的汞污染防治领域的文献计量分析

汞作为一种全球性污染物,一直是国际上热点问题之一。我国汞污染排放量大面广,局地污染严重。为分析汞污染防治领域的发文现状和研究热点,梳理了主要的汞污染防治技术、汞污染评价与管理3个方面的SCI论文,并对国内外论文的发文国家/地区、发文机构、发文期刊、影响力、研究领域与热点等内容进行了统计与分析。结果表明,汞污染的研究主要集中在处理技术和污染评价2个方面,近10年来,汞污染防治论文总量呈缓慢增加的趋势,其中,汞污染处理技术相关的论文有所减少,汞污染评价相关的论文逐年递增。汞污染处理技术主要包括吸附处理、氧化还原、电化学修复、催化处理等方面;污染评价主要涉及毒理研究、汞的迁移与转化、风险评估等。近年来,汞的迁移转化与风险评估,汞污染的电动力修复、催化处理、吸附处理等领域的发文量增速较快。全球重点研发机构的研究方向趋同,主要侧重于环境科学与生态、化学、工程、毒理学等方向的研究;但不同机构的研究对象则具有明显的地域特点。我国在该领域的发文总量和ESI高被引论文数量均排全球首位,研究方向、重点发文期刊与全球基本一致,重点发文机构为中国科学院、华中科技大学、清华大学、浙江大学等机构,这些机构在全球的发文量排名也处在前列。     

新型脱汞技术下粉煤灰中的含汞量及其堆存时汞的浸出特征研究

添加溴化钙、喷射活性炭或溴化活性炭等脱汞技术会将更多的汞转移到粉煤灰中,增加了粉煤灰在堆存过程中的环境风险。主要讨论了添加溴化钙、喷射活性炭或溴化活性炭等不同新型脱汞技术产生的粉煤灰(分别简称为BCFA、CFA、BFA)的理化特性,并模拟了极端酸性降雨条件下粉煤灰在堆存过程中汞的释放规律。结果表明,BCFA、CFA、BFA与常规协同控制脱汞下产生的粉煤灰(简称RFA,作为对照)的矿物组成与颗粒粒径无显著差异。添加不同量的溴化钙后BCFA中含汞量变化不明显,与RFA中含汞量差异也不明显;BFA和CFA中含汞量随喷射速率提高而逐渐增加,且明显高于RFA中含汞量。RFA、BCFA、CFA、BFA的浸出液含汞量在13.7~42.6ng/L,均低于《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838—2002)中Ⅰ类标准,因此不同新型脱汞技术产生的粉煤灰在堆存初期,即使在极端酸性降雨的条件下,也不会对周围水环境造成汞污染。     

松花江江水中汞的迁移方式

本文运用河流动力学、水力学、污染化学和物理化学等相关学科,对松花江各江段江水中汞的迁移方式进行了研究,初步确定松花江江水中汞的迁移概率统计公式以及迁移方式,对阐明松花江江水中汞所处状态和预测污染程度提供理论依据。     

宁波地区海产品中汞污染现状研究

采用冷原子吸收（荧光）法测定了宁波不同地区的各种海产品中总汞和甲基汞含量，总体属轻度及中等污染水平，工业轻发达地区的海产品内总汞和甲基汞的含量较高，不同种类海产品因食性不同，在食物链中所处位置不同，表现为贝壳类＞肉食性类＞杂食性类＞植食性类＞藻类和水草，无鳞鱼类＞有鳞鱼类；海产品中不同部分污染水平表现为内脏＞头部＞肌肉；海水＜底泥＜海产品。除个别样品接近国家标准外，其余都符合我国食品卫生标准。     

Impact of gold mining associated with mercury contamination in soil,biota sediments and tailings in Kenya

This work considered the environmental impact of artisanal mining gold activity in the Migori–Transmara area (Kenya). From artisanal gold mining, mercury is released to the environment, thus contributing to degradation of soil and water bodies. High mercury contents have been quantified in soil (140 μg kg^?1), sediment (430 μg kg^?1) and tailings (8,900 μg kg^?1), as expected. The results reveal that the mechanism for transporting mercury to the terrestrial ecosystem is associated with wet and dry depositions. Lichens and mosses, used as bioindicators of pollution, are related to the proximity to mining areas. The further the distance from mining areas, the lower the mercury levels. This study also provides risk maps to evaluate potential negative repercussions. We conclude that the Migori–Transmara region can be considered a strongly polluted area with high mercury contents. The technology used to extract gold throughout amalgamation processes causes a high degree of mercury pollution around this gold mining area. Thus, alternative gold extraction methods should be considered to reduce mercury levels that can be released to the environment.     

Evaluation of mercury contamination using plant leaves and humus as indicators

Plant leaves and humus were collected from three areas with and without mercury emission sources. Mercury in these samples were determined by cold flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. A part of mercury emitted from the source into the atmosphere is absorbed by plant leaves, and move to humus through fallen leaves. Consequentry, plant leaves are able to be used as an indicator for the evaluation of mercury in air at present. Humus is usefull for the evaluation of mercury contamination through the air from the past to present.     

Evaluation of a sequential extraction process used for determining mercury binding mechanisms to coal combustion byproducts

Leaching of mercury from coal combustion byproducts is a concern because of the toxicity of mercury. Leachability of mercury can be assessed by using sequential extraction procedures. Sequential extraction procedures are commonly used to determine the speciation and mobility of trace metals in solid samples and are designed to differentiate among metals bound by different mechanisms and to different solid phases. This study evaluated the selectivity and effectiveness of a sequential extraction process used to determine mercury binding mechanisms to various materials. A six-step sequential extraction process was applied to laboratory-synthesized materials with known mercury concentrations and binding mechanisms. These materials were calcite, hematite, goethite, and titanium dioxide. Fly ash from a full-scale power plant was also investigated. The concentrations of mercury were measured using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry, whereas the major elements were measured by ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The sequential extraction procedure provided information about the solid phases with which mercury was associated in the solid sample. The procedure effectively extracted mercury from the target phases. The procedure was generally selective in extracting mercury. However, some steps in the procedure extracted mercury from nontarget phases, and others resulted in mercury redistribution. Iron from hematite and goethite was only leached in the reducible and residual extraction steps. Some mercury associated with goethite was extracted in the ion exchangeable step, whereas mercury associated with hematite was extracted almost entirely in the residual step. Calcium in calcite and mercury associated with calcite were primarily removed in the acid-soluble extraction step. Titanium in titanium dioxide and mercury adsorbed onto titanium dioxide were extracted almost entirely in the residual step.     

Potential application of a semi-quantitative method for mercury determination in soils, sediments and gold mining residues

An alternative, low cost method for analyzing mercury in soil, sediment and gold mining residues was developed, optimized and applied to 30 real samples. It is semiquantitative, performed using an acid extraction pretreatment step, followed by mercury reduction and collection in a detecting paper containing cuprous iodide. A complex is formed with characteristic color whose intensity is proportional to mercury concentration in the original sample. The results are reported as range of concentration and the minimum detectable is 100 ng/g. Method quality assurance was performed by comparing results obtained using the alternative method and the Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry techniques. The average results from duplicate analysis by CVAAS were 100% coincident with alternative method results. The method is applicable for screening tests and can be used in regions where a preliminary diagnosis is necessary, at programs of environmental surveillance or by scientists interested in investigating mercury geochemistry.     

Biogeochemistry of mercury in the Amazonian environment

In this paper, the processes that affect mercury (Hg) cycling in the Amazonian environment were reviewed, criticized and new directions of research are proposed. The discussion of the origin of the mercury contamination, whether natural or anthropogenic is marked by a lack of fundamented arguments from both sides. Undoubtedly mercury inputs from gold mining have locally increased environmental concentrations, but in the whole Amazon, these loads would be insignificant, considering the high concentrations observed by some authors in remote soils. A reasonable process that should explain these elevated concentrations in soil is that B horizons function as a mercury "sponge" that have been accumulating mercury over a geological time scale, releasing it back to cycling during erosion and forest fires. The environmental degradation of the Amazonian forest due to human activities is probably enhancing the release of that mercury to the cycle. Mercury transformations in reduced, anoxic environments--sediments and waters--are also a key problem for the understanding of the environmental methylation. The studies that have been carried out in the Amazonian environment are too restricted and results permit only circumstantial conclusions. Large efforts must be directed to monitoring programs considering time and space variability.     

电厂燃煤过程中汞的迁移转化及控制技术研究

讨论了近年来国内外电厂煤燃烧过程中汞的形态分布以及迁移转化规律研究的最新成果 ,并在此基础上评价了现有电站污染控制系统的脱汞性能 ,考虑到汞的排放控制 ,提出了对现有设备的可能优化措施。在分析中 ,注意到汞的易挥发性 ,认为汞排放控制应该充分考虑烟气中汞形态的迁移转化。由于氧化态汞在汞控制中有着重要作用 ,其研究将是控制电厂汞排放的关键。先进的汞排放控制技术的开发应以增强汞的氧化态为优先发展方向。     

Atmospheric mercury levels in the Slovak Republic.

Total mercury concentrations (as a sum of vapor and particulate mercury) were measured in 24-h samples of ambient air in 20 different localities of the Slovak Republic eight times during the period 1996-1997. Vapor mercury was analyzed on site by atomic fluorescence with amalgamation technique. Particulate mercury was determined by vapor hydride atomic absorption spectrometry after wet digestion of filters with particulate air samples. The results showed that 34% of the 160 individual total mercury concentrations exceeded 5 ng/m3--the ambient air quality guideline value recommended by the WHO. The range of total mercury concentrations in the ambient air of Slovakia was: 1.13-3.98 ng/m3 (geom. mean 2.63) in the background area; 2.25-5.27 ng/m3 (geom. mean 3.64) in the agricultural areas; 1.73-20.53 ng/m3 (geom. mean 4.57) in the urban areas; and 1.53-39.85 ng/m3 (geom. mean 5.28) in the industrial areas. The highest mercury levels occurred in areas with metallurgical industry and coal combustion. The predominant form of mercury present in air was vapor mercury. The particulate fraction of mercury in ambient air (as a percentage of total mercury) varied widely from 0.4% to 42.1% (geom. mean = 4.4%). This fraction was lower in agricultural areas (2.3%) than in urban areas (5.3%). Although the atmospheric vapor mercury concentrations were slightly higher in summer than in winter, a direct correlation of vapor mercury concentrations and ambient air temperature was not found. Furthermore, the particulate mercury concentrations did not correlate with total particulate levels.     

Estimation of mercury content in tailings of the gold mine area of Poconé, Mato Grosso,Brazil

As in many other parts of the world, gold is produced in the surface mining region of Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil, using mercury. The goal of this investigation was to estimate the amount of mercury in certain tailings and to determine the area of the land that has been contaminated by the gold mining operations. Mercury concentrations from 2 to 495 ng/g (dw) were determined in the tailing materials. It was observed that only isolated sites were acting as central points of contamination. Using digital Landsat satellite data (The-matic Mapper) and aerial photos, the sites degraded by the mining were classified, and their total area was estimated to be 12.3 km² in the region of Poconé. It was estimated, that 4.9 km² were occupied by the contaminated tailings. The mean height of the pile slags was determined to be 4.5 m. From the experimentally calculated average density of the material in the tailings, 2.01 g/cm³, the total mercury content in the piles of tailings was estimated to be 1600 ± 350 kg.     

Mercury emission from coal-fired power plants in Poland

The paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding sources of mercury emission in Poland. Due to the large quantities of coal burned at present, as well as taking into account existing reserves, coal remains the main energy source of energy in Poland. The data on coal consumption in Poland in the past, at present and in the future are discussed in the paper. Information on the content of mercury in Polish coals is presented.Coal combustion processes for electricity and heat production are the main source of anthropogenic mercury emission in Poland. It is expected that the current emissions will decrease in the future due to implementation of efficient control measures. These measures for emission reduction are described in the paper. Results of estimated mercury emission from coal-fired power station situated in the Upper Silesia Region, Poland are investigated. A relationship between mercury emission to the air and the mercury content in the consumed coal in power station equipped with the electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) is discussed.     

Pre-Colombian Mercury Pollution Associated with the Smelting of Argentiferous Ores in the Bolivian Andes

The development of the mercury (Hg) amalgamation process in the mid-sixteenth century triggered the onset of large-scale Hg mining in both the Old and New Worlds. However, ancient Hg emissions associated with amalgamation and earlier mining efforts remain poorly constrained. Using a geochemical time-series generated from lake sediments near Cerro Rico de Potosí, once the world’s largest silver deposit, we demonstrate that pre-Colonial smelting of Andean silver ores generated substantial Hg emissions as early as the twelfth century. Peak sediment Hg concentrations and fluxes are associated with smelting and exceed background values by approximately 20-fold and 22-fold, respectively. The sediment inventory of this early Hg pollution more than doubles that associated with extensive amalgamation following Spanish control of the mine (1574–1900 AD). Global measurements of [Hg] from economic ores sampled world-wide indicate that the phenomenon of Hg enrichment in non-ferrous ores is widespread. The results presented here imply that indigenous smelting constitutes a previously unrecognized source of early Hg pollution, given naturally elevated [Hg] in economic silver deposits.