110 likes | 221 Views
Mercury Dissolution Studies in Soil Columns as a Function of pe. Matthew Fox Dr. S. Grimberg. Objectives. Predict the effect of pe on abiotic/biotic Hg transformations in sediments Net effect of pe on Hg in controlled pe conditions: Dissolved Hg Transformed Hg Transported Hg.
E N D
Mercury Dissolution Studies in Soil Columns as a Function of pe Matthew Fox Dr. S. Grimberg
Objectives • Predict the effect of pe on abiotic/biotic Hg transformations in sediments • Net effect of pe on Hg in controlled pe conditions: • Dissolved Hg • Transformed Hg • Transported Hg
Soil Composition Aerobic Metabolism: Oxidation of organic matter Denitrification: Sulfate Reducing Conditions: Sulfate reducing bacteria causing Hg Methylation Methanogenesis: *Modified from Dr. Kim Shulz: www.esf.edu/efb/schulz/ Limnology/RedoxReac2.jpg
Abiotic and Biotic Column Conditions Anaerobic: Sulfur couple Variable column Anaerobic: Nitrogen couple Aerobic Eh Range (mV) • The columns model the soil zones within the watershed 200 to 800 50 to 750 -650 to -200
Column Setup • Measure pH/pe before and after column • Outflow will be into a sealed container to reduce contamination • Many samples for HgT and a few samples for MeHg pH/ORP meter N2 Purge + Disp. Pump Ready for Hg analysis Media solution Flow through cell Column
Experimental Stages • Quartz sand: • vary pe, DOC in abiotic environment Obtain stable reproducible results. • Quartz sand w/ HgS: • vary pe, DOC in abiotic and biotic environment • Soil: • vary pe, DOC in biotic environment • Soil w/HgS: • vary pe, DOC in biotic environment 1. 2. 3. 4.
Accomplished to Date • Collected Soil samples next to Sunday Lake • Collected Influent and Effluent water/DOC samples, filtered through 5.0 and 0.45 mm, storing frozen • Experimental setup for two columns with automatic data logging capabilities • Determined the mV effect of quartz sand for the non-buffered systems: • Couples: NH4+ / NO3- and HS- / SO42- • Couples with trace metal media • Nitrogen Couple stability with trace metal and Phosphorus buffer
Infrared Digital Orthoquad Sp 2003 water soil
Future Plans • Testing under varied pe, DOC conditions while recording mV, pH and determining HgT and less often MeHg • quartz sand with HgS • soil • soil with HgS