Sorption kinetics of Hg and HgCl[sub 2] on Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer sediments from the New Jersey Coastal Plain
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Dept. of Geological and Geophysical Sciences
Anomalously high Hg concentrations have been detected from domestic wells in the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer System, New Jersey Coastal Plain. Mercury concentrations ranging from 0.2--83.0 [mu]g/l in relatively shallow wells ([lt] 100 feet) have been detected. Concentrations in excess of 2.0 [mu]g/l, (the USEPA Drinking Water Standard) have been detected in wells where the Cohansey Sand is overlain by the Bridgeton Formation; a fluvial iron-rich sand with some gravelly channel deposits containing goethite and gibbsite nodules. In this study, Bridgeton Fm. sediments were used to determine the sorption kinetics for solutions containing HgCl[sub 2] and for solutions containing dissolved elemental Hg in order to assess the potential for the Bridgeton sediments to act as a conduit for Hg mobilized from the surface. Results of batch equilibrium experiments suggest that dissolved elemental Hg sorbs to Bridgeton sediments by a risk-order kinetic process. Sorption of the Hg proceeded exponentially and equilibrium was reached within 14 hours. The sorption kinetics for the HgCl[sub 2] solutions, however, appear to be of a second or higher order. For this compound sorption to the sediments begins exponentially, but after 6 hours desorption into the water begins to predominate followed by a slower exponential sorption step that requires nearly 36 hours to reach equilibrium. These experiments illustrate the necessity of determining the distribution coefficients of possible source compounds when attempting to evaluate mobilization potential of a contaminant in the unsaturated zone. Moreover, these data also suggest that HgCl[sub 2], a seed dressing for corn, medial bacteriacide, and embalming fluid ingredient, is more mobile in the environment than dissolved elemental Hg. Consequently, the ground water contamination potential appears to be greater for HgCl[sub 2] than for elemental Hg.
- OSTI ID:
- 6016781
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-921058-; CODEN: GAAPBC
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AQUIFERS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
MERCURY
SORPTION
MERCURY CHLORIDES
NEW JERSEY
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GROUND WATER
KINETICS
RESERVOIR ROCK
SEDIMENTS
WATER WELLS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
MERCURY HALIDES
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
USA
WATER
WELLS
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)