Mercury contamination in vicinity of secondary copper smelters in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province, China: Levels and contamination in topsoils

In the present study, we aim to investigate the extent of soil contamination by Hg, particularly by anthropogenic Hg, and tentatively estimate the total Hg (Hg_T) accumulation in topsoils (0-15 cm) in Fuyang, Zhejiang Province—a secondary Cu smelter of China. The results show that the levels of soil Hg in the vicinity of the smelters have been substantially elevated following local smelting activities. The spatial distribution of soil Hg in this area reveals a rapid decrease as the distance from the smelter reaches 1.5 km, which is probably due to the quick deposition process of particulate Hg and reactive gaseous Hg emitted from the smelters. The total accumulation of Hg_T in the topsoils of the study area of 10.9 km² is approximately 365-561 kg and of which 346-543 kg might be contributed by anthropogenic emission alone with an annual emission of 17.3-27.2 kg Hg to the topsoils.     

Using native epiphytic ferns to estimate the atmospheric mercury levels in a small-scale gold mining area of West Java, Indonesia

Mercury pollution is caused by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations along the Cikaniki River (West Java, Indonesia). The atmosphere is one of the primary media through which mercury can disperse. In this study, atmospheric mercury levels are estimated using the native epiphytic fern Asplenium nidus complex (A. nidus) as a biomonitor; these estimates shed light on the atmospheric dispersion of mercury released during mining.Samples were collected from 8 sites along the Cikaniki Basin during September-November, 2008 and September-November, 2009.The A. nidus fronds that were attached to tree trunks 1-3 m above the ground were collected and measured for total mercury concentration using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) after acid-digestion. The atmospheric mercury was collected using porous gold collectors, and the concentrations were determined using double-amalgam CVAAS.The highest atmospheric mercury concentration, 1.8 × 10³ ± 1.6 × 10³ ng m⁻³, was observed at the mining hot spot, and the lowest concentration of mercury, 5.6 ± 2.0 ng m⁻³, was observed at the remote site from the Cikaniki River in 2009. The mercury concentrations in A. nidus were higher at the mining village (5.4 × 10³ ± 1.6 × 10³ ng g⁻¹) than at the remote site (70 ± 30 ng g⁻¹). The distribution of mercury in A. nidus was similar to that in the atmosphere; a significant correlation was observed between the mercury concentrations in the air and in A. nidus (r = 0.895, P < 0.001, n = 14). The mercury levels in the atmosphere can be estimated from the mercury concentration in A. nidus using a regression equation: log (Hg_A.nidu/ng g⁻¹) = 0.740 log (Hg_Air/ng m⁻³) − 1.324.     

温度对改性矿物吸附剂脱除气态汞影响

以蛭石、丝光沸石、膨润土及经改性后各物质为吸附剂,N2气氛下,在固定床实验台上进行了对烟气中单质汞脱除的实验研究,主要考察了温度的改变对改性矿物吸附剂脱除气态汞的影响。研究结果显示,膨润土、蛭石对汞的吸附基本不受温度的影响;未改性的吸附剂对汞的吸附能力均比较差;温度的提高有利于改性吸附剂对单质汞的脱除,说明改性后的吸附剂的脱汞过程以化学吸附为主;真正起作用的活性组分CeO2占据了丝光沸石的大部分表面积和空隙;丝光沸石经CuO改性前后吸附能力几乎未发生变化。     

压汞法测定火电厂SCR板式催化剂孔参数的研究

以压汞法测定多孔物质的孔结构及比表面积已广泛用于化学工业、催化剂、石油、陶瓷及水泥等各个领域,但国内外关于压汞法在火电厂烟气脱硝催化剂表征中的应用鲜有报道。借鉴孔结构测试的标准方法,对样品处理方法及一些试验条件进行了优化,确定了一种用压汞法表征脱硝催化剂孔参数（主要包括孔容、孔径及孔径分布）的方法。并将该方法用于某电厂运行不同时间的催化剂参数的表征,结果表明,压汞法测得的孔隙数据与催化剂活性存在相关性。此方法的应用将对电厂脱硝催化剂的表征和管理提供指导。     

燃煤电厂汞排放控制技术研究

近年来,燃煤电厂烟气中的汞成为继SO2、NOx和烟尘之后又一公认的大气环境污染物,我国已正式立法控制燃煤电厂汞排放,这使得燃煤电厂汞排放技术的研究迫在眉睫。不同形态汞的理化性质不同,元素态汞（ Hg0）较之氧化态汞（Hg2＋）和颗粒态汞（Hgp）更难去除,因此,脱汞的前提是提高Hg0的氧化率。介绍并简单分析了目前国内外已有的汞排放控制技术：燃烧前控制（清洁燃煤发电技术）、燃烧中控制（煤基添加剂技术和炉膛喷射技术）,和燃烧后控制（利用现有的烟气控制设备协同控制）,并对我国脱汞技术发展方向提出了展望。     

Validation of a hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry methodology for determination of mercury in fish designed for application in the Brazilian national residue control plan

In the present study, a method for the determination of mercury (Hg) in fish was validated according to ISO/IEC 17025, INMETRO (Brazil), and more recent European recommendations (Commission Decision 2007/333/EC and 2002/657/EC) for implementation in the Brazilian Residue Control Plan (NRCP) in routine applications. The parameters evaluated in the validation were investigated in detail. The results obtained for limit of detection and quantification were respectively, 2.36 and 7.88 μg kg^?1 of Hg. While the recovery varies between 90–96%. The coefficient of variation was of 4.06–8.94% for the repeatability. Furthermore, a comparison using an external proficiency testing scheme was realized. The results of method validated for the determination of the mercury in fish by Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry were considered suitable for implementation in routine analysis.     

Use of Stable Isotopes to Identify Sources of Mercury in Sediments: A Review and Uncertainty Analysis

Mass-dependent and mass-independent mercury isotope fractionation potentially generates unique source signatures that can be used to apportion contributions to sediment contamination. This article reviews findings from previous investigations that have used mercury isotopes to identify sources. It also discusses a mass balance mercury isotope fractionation model that simulates changes in isotopic source signatures in aquatic systems caused by natural biogeochemical cycling. According to the model, the extent of source signature alteration depends on chemical speciation, with more labile forms exhibiting greater isotopic fractionation. Apportionment is tractable when differences between δ²⁰²Hg of sources are larger than potential changes in isotopic signatures following the release of mercury into the environment.     

钴钛层柱粘土催化剂催脱除零价汞简

采用钴-钛层柱粘土催化剂,向烟气中添加HCl气体进行零价汞的催化脱除实验研究。考察了反应温度及催化剂的焙烧温度、Ti/粘土、活性组分（Co）负载量等制备条件对零价汞催化脱除效果的影响。研究表明,在HCl含量20×10^-6的模拟烟气中,焙烧温度为400℃、Ti/粘土为15 mmol/g、Co含量为5 wt%（以CoO计）的钴钛层柱粘土催化剂（Co-Ti-PILCs）在空速为1.0×10⁴ h^-1、温度为300℃时零价汞脱除效率为86.7%。     

湿法烟气脱硫系统的脱汞性能现场实验

分析湿法烟气脱硫系统的脱汞性能,对控制燃煤电厂的汞污染具有重要意义。利用安大略水法和吸附管法分别对某600 MW电厂湿法脱硫系统的进出口的烟气进行了采样,测量了烟气中各形态汞浓度,并分析了该系统对烟气总汞、气态氧化态汞的脱除效果以及对气态单质汞的影响。研究结果表明,安大略水法和吸附管法均能较为准确地测定湿法脱硫系统进出口烟气中的汞含量,测得入口和出口的氧化汞与平均值的相对误差的绝对值分别为3.5%和1.3%;入口和出口的单质汞与平均值相对误差的绝对值分别为16.6%和3.3%。其中吸附管法操作相对简单。通过湿法烟气脱硫系统后,烟气中氧化态汞的浓度可下降87.5%,其中约67.5%的氧化态汞被湿法脱硫系统脱除,约20%的氧化态汞在脱硫浆液的还原作用下被还原为单质汞,导致脱硫系统出口的单质汞浓度高于入口。     

Total mercury, organic mercury and selenium in liver and kidney of a South American coastal dolphin

Selenium and total and organic mercury were determined in the liver and kidney of franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) incidentally caught in fishing nets along two Brazilian coastal areas (southeast and south). Regional differences in the concentrations of these contaminants were observed in P. blainvillei. Liver showed the highest organic and total mercury. In general, samples of individuals collected at the southern of Brazil had the highest concentrations of selenium and total and organic mercury. No significant gender differences were observed. Growth stage influenced the accumulation of these contaminants in both organs, and hepatic concentrations increased with the body length, according to the sampling area. Molar mercury and selenium concentrations in liver were significantly correlated, with a Se:Hg ratio close to 4. The among-site differences we found may be related to differences in preferred prey, bioavailability in the marine environment, environmental conditions, or these individuals may belong to distinct populations.