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ABIOLOGICAL METHYLATION OF MERCURY IN SOIL
Citation:
Rogers, R. ABIOLOGICAL METHYLATION OF MERCURY IN SOIL. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/3-77/007 (NTIS PB263902).
Description:
This work defines several factors influencing the methylation of mercuric ion in soil. Two of the most important findings were that it is possible to extract the mercury methylating factor from soil with a solution of 0.5N sodium hydroxide and that this factor is responsible for the abiological methylation of mercury in the soils under investigation. The ability of the soil extract to methylate mercury is influenced by temperature, mercuric ion concentration, and solution pH. The methylating ability of the soil extract was stable at high temperatures (121C), but was lost after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. When the 0.5N sodium hydroxide extract of soil was separated into a soluble and insoluble fraction, the ability to methylate mercuric ion remained with the soluble fraction. It was found that the methylating factor was lost when the 0.5N sodium hydroxide extract was dialyzed against distilled water. Further work showed that the methylating factor passes through dialysis tubing into the distilled water.