TY - JOUR
T1 - Overview and challenges of mercury fractionation and speciation in soils
AU - Reis, Ana Teresa
AU - Davidson, Christine M.
AU - Vale, Carlos
AU - Pereira, Eduarda
PY - 2016/9/30
Y1 - 2016/9/30
N2 - Analytical procedures to assess mercury speciation in soils still lack consensus. This article presents an overview of the mercury fractionation and speciation procedures used in soils. Mercury fractionation is the most common approach despite the operational definition of the fractions. Application of single extraction procedures that target the water-soluble, exchangeable and acid-soluble fractions and the application of EPA method 3200 for mercury sequential extraction are examined in soils with different physicochemical characteristics. A step forward in mercury speciation is thermo-desorption, a useful tool to rapidly obtain needed information about contaminated soils. The advantages and limitations of these procedures are compared; the importance of soils’ physicochemical characteristics highlighted. Criteria to be considered when choosing a suitable method are given - assessing total mercury concentration, soil physicochemical characteristics, environmental conditions, and legislation. It is recommended that the interpretation of results is done wisely, to correctly support decisions concerning intervention strategies at contaminated sites.
AB - Analytical procedures to assess mercury speciation in soils still lack consensus. This article presents an overview of the mercury fractionation and speciation procedures used in soils. Mercury fractionation is the most common approach despite the operational definition of the fractions. Application of single extraction procedures that target the water-soluble, exchangeable and acid-soluble fractions and the application of EPA method 3200 for mercury sequential extraction are examined in soils with different physicochemical characteristics. A step forward in mercury speciation is thermo-desorption, a useful tool to rapidly obtain needed information about contaminated soils. The advantages and limitations of these procedures are compared; the importance of soils’ physicochemical characteristics highlighted. Criteria to be considered when choosing a suitable method are given - assessing total mercury concentration, soil physicochemical characteristics, environmental conditions, and legislation. It is recommended that the interpretation of results is done wisely, to correctly support decisions concerning intervention strategies at contaminated sites.
KW - mercury
KW - soil
KW - fractionation
KW - speciation
KW - sequntial extraction
KW - risk assessment
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01659936
U2 - 10.1016/j.trac.2016.05.008
DO - 10.1016/j.trac.2016.05.008
M3 - Article
SN - 0165-9936
VL - 82
SP - 109
EP - 117
JO - Trends in Analytical Chemistry
JF - Trends in Analytical Chemistry
ER -