Chemisty Of Organomercurials In Aquatic Systems
Date
1973-09
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Abstract
Kinetics in water of some chemical and photochemical reactions
postulated as key transformations in the environmental mercury cycle
were investigated. Decomposition of dimethylmercury (DMM) and
diphenylmercury (DPM) by acids and mercuric salts was shown to be
pH dependent and too slow to be significant under most environmental
conditions. Degradation of organomercuric salts by acid is even
slower. Theoretical evidence indicates that loss of elemental
mercury or DMM at the air-water interface can be important in turbulent
systems.
Dimethylmercury, methylmercuric chloride, methylmercuric hydroxide,
and methylmercuric ion were not decomposed by sunlight, but phenylmercury
and sulfur-bonded methylmercuric species were readily
decomposed to inorganic mercury. Detailed equilibrium calculations
indicate that the sulfur-bonded methylmercuric species are the
predominant species in natural waters. Quantum yields for these
reactions are presented along with a technique for calculating
sunlight photolysis rates from laboratory data.
The report also includes a review of the chemical literature concerning
the kinetics of chemical and photochemical decomposition of
organomercurials.
Description
Keywords
Chemistry, Organomercurials, Aquatic Systems