Determination of mercury methylation potential in the presence of peat organic matter

Capítulos de libros

Date

2013-08-01

Registration in:

Functions of Natural Organic Matter in Changing Environment, v. 9789400756342, p. 709-714.

http://hdl.handle.net/11449/220393

10.1007/978-94-007-5634-2_129

2-s2.0-84932619257

https://repositorioslatinoamericanos.uchile.cl/handle/2250/5400522

Author

Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

University of Brasília - UNB

Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)

Institutions

Universidade Estadual Paulista (Brasil)

Abstract

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin pollutant that accumulates in organisms and biomagnifies along the trophic chain. It is formed by the transfer of a methyl group to inorganic mercury (Hg). This transformation, termed methylation, can occur as a result of microbial activity, photochemical transfer of the methyl group, or interaction with humic substances present in water bodies, with microbial activity showing the greatest methylation potential. In this work, the formation of MeHg was observed over a period of 22 days, in the presence of peat rich in organic matter (OM), together with either Hg0 or Hg2+. Analyses were made of pH, redox potential (EH), and dissolved oxygen (DO).

Subjects

Mercury

Methylation

Organic matter

Show full item record