Assessment of natural zeolite clinoptilolite for remediation of mercury-contaminated environment

Ivona Nuić (Author), Mateja Gosar (Author), Marin Ugrina (Author), Marina Trgo (Author)

Abstract

The soil at ancient roasting sites in the surroundings of the Idrija mine (Slovenia) is highly contaminated with mercury. To assess the impact of mercury on groundwater by infiltration and find an eco-friendly remediation method, the leaching of mercury from the soil containing 1347 mg Hg/kg, followed by sorption of the total leached mercury on cost-effective natural zeolite (NZ) clinoptilolite, was performed. The leaching of soil in ultrapure water of pHo = 3.00–11.46 after 24 h resulted in the total leached mercury concentration in the range 0.33–17.43 µg/L. Much higher concentrations (136.9–488.0 µg/L) were determined after the first few hours of leaching and were high above the maximum permissible level in water for human consumption. The NZ showed very good sorption of the total leached mercury, with a maximum removal efficiency of 94.2%. The leaching of mercury in presence of the NZ resulted in a significant decrease of the total leached mercury (1.9–20.3 µg/L compared to 12.8–42.2 µg/L), with removal efficiencies up to 90.5%, indicating immobilization of mercury species. The NZ has a great potential for economically viable remediation of mercury-contaminated environment. However, efforts should be made in the further study of mercury leachability to reduce the mercury concentration in water to acceptable levels.

Keywords

zeoliti;onesnaženje okolja;sanacija onesnaženja;živo srebro;rudarjenje;Idrija;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2022
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	GeoZS - Geological Survey of Slovenia
Publisher:	MDPI
UDC:	504.5
COBISS:	112548867
ISSN:	2227-9717
Views:	102
Downloads:	47
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Type (COBISS):	Not categorized
Pages:	23 str.
Volume:	ǂvol. ǂ10
Issue:	ǂno. ǂ4
Chronology:	2022
DOI:	10.3390/pr10040639
ID:	15721013