The work falls within the scope of validation of the use of radioactive isotopes to experimentally demonstrate the transformations of Hg in aqueous solution. Radioactive isotopes were prepared from enriched Hg isotope 196, its irradiated in a nuclear reactor at JSI. The resulting, highly active isotope Hg-197, was used for the latter processes of reduction and methylation. The main achievement is to remove interferences of process measuremnts by the useofradiochemical separation procedures.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2410575
Chapter in the book provides a critical review of existing analytical procedures for the determination of mercury and its compounds in different samples, especially in the water.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26024743
In the wet flue gas desulphurization (FGD) process with forced oxidation, very soluble oxidised mercury is retained in the scrubbing solution while Hg0 is not and is emitted to the atmosphere. We showed experimentally that the complex chemistry in FGD solution can be modified in so that dissolved Hg0 is oxidised by air introduced for the oxidation of S(IV) to S(VI) compounds. The most important chemical reactions were identified. Oxidation is enhanced by catalytic reactions with transition metals like Fe and Mn, which, when combined, show a synergistic positive effect. It seems that the radicals involved in the chain reactions of autoxidation of S(IV) are also responsible for the oxidation of Hg0. The reaction products of this system are sulphates and polythionates, which were also determined in the absorber solutions. Hg0 removal efficiency from the gaseous phase achieved in laboratory testing was from 70% to over 95%. The schematic chemical model which includes the conclusions derived from experimental results and from published chemical mechanisms is proposed.