ENVIRONMENTAL

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

CHE32M2 ASSIGNMENT 1 2019

DLULANE APHELELE 216004365

MERCURY BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
 (i) When materials containing mercury are burned, as in coal combustion
or waste incineration, mercury is released to the atmosphere as a gas
either in elemental form, Hg(0) or oxidized divalent form, Hg2+
 The oxidized form is present as water-soluble compounds such as
HgCl2 that are readily deposited in the region of their emission. By contrast,
Hg(0) is not water-soluble and must be oxidized to Hg2+ in order to be
deposited.
 Several bacteria can also transform toxic mercury to nontoxic forms.
 This oxidation takes place in the atmosphere on a time scale of one year,
sufficiently long that mercury can be readily transported around the world
by atmospheric circulation.
 Once deposited, oxidized mercury can be converted back to the elemental
form Hg(0) and re-emitted to the atmosphere
 In the aquatic environment, this Hg may methylate and eventually end up
in the diet of carnivorous fishes
 Humans who benefit in the sea food my end up eating the fish that was
contaminated by the methylmercury and catch a disease called Minamata,
that affect the central nervous system.
 (ii)All chemical elements occurring in organisms are part of biogeochemical cycles. In
addition to being a part of living organisms, these chemical elements also cycle
through abiotic factors of ecosystems such as water , land, and the air.
 All the nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur used in
ecosystems by living organisms are a part of a closed system; therefore, these
chemicals are recycled instead of being lost and replenished constantly such as in an
open system
 Biogeochemical cycles always involve hot equilibrium states: a balance in the cycling
of the element between compartments. However, overall balance may involve
compartments distributed on a global scale
 biogeochemical cycles describe the movements of substances on the entire globe,
the study of these is inherently multidisciplinary.
 There has been increasing concern about mercury (Hg) levels in marine and
freshwater organisms in the Arctic, due to the importance of traditional country foods
such as fish and marine mammals to the diet of Northern Peoples, because of that the
biogeochemical cycle of mercury needed to be studied.
 Due to its toxicity and ability to bio-accumulate and bio-magnify in food webs,
methylmercury (Me-Hg) is the form of Hg that is of greatest concern.
 Because methylmercury production in marine waters is limited by the
availability of Hg(II), predicted increases in Hg(II) concentrations in oceans are
likely to result in higher methylmercury concentrations and increased exposure
to Hg in humans and wildlife
 We are able to predict the increase because, the biogeochemical cycle can be
studied.
 Methylmercury bioaccumulation-bio magnification in Arctic aquatic food webs
is a function of the MeHg reservoir in abiotic compartments, as well as
ecological considerations such as food-chain length, growth rates, life-history
characteristics, feeding behavior, and trophic interactions
 Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata city in Kumamoto
prefecture, Japan, in 1956. It was caused by the release of methylmercury in
the industrial wastewater from the Chisso Corporation's chemical factory,
which continued from 1932 to 1968. Because of the help of biogeochemical
cycle the Minamata disease was reduced.
 People of japan used the biogeochemical cycle of mercury to see and
understand where the problem is, and they acted upon it and solved the
problem
(iii)
 Mercury is used in thermometers to measure temperature,
because of its large thermal expansion which becomes
constant over a large temperature range.
 Mercury is used in Barometers due to its high density. From
this, it has also became the way of measuring pressure in
millimeters of mercury
QUESTION 2

 (a) Acid Mine Drainage is metal-rich water formed from

chemical reaction between water and rocks containing
sulfur-bearing minerals . The runoff formed is usually acidic
and frequently comes from areas where ore or coal mining
activities have exposed rocks containing pyrite, a sulfur
bearing mineral
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
How does Acid Mine Drainage Occur?
• The Acid Mine Drainage is the number one environmental
problem facing the mining industry. AMD occurs when
sulphide-bearing minerals in rock are exposed to air and
water, changing the sulphide to sulphuric acid. It can
devastate aquatic habitats, is difficult to treat with existing
technology, and once started, can continue for centuries
• Acid mine drainage can develop at several points
throughout the mining process: in underground workings,
open pit mine faces, waste rock dumps, tailings deposits,
and ore stockpiles.
• The acid runoff further dissolves heavy metals such as
copper, lead, mercury into ground or surface water
• The rate and degree by which acid-mine drainage
proceeds can be increased by the action of certain
bacteria
CHEMISTRY OF ACID MINE
DRAINAGE
 Acid Mine Drainage to the flow of water out of a
mine that has a very high acidic(low pH) after
being in contact with air and metal.
 It results from the oxidation of sulfide minerals
inherent in some ore bodies and the surrounding
rocks.
Reaction 1
• 2Fe𝑆2 + 7𝑂2 + 2𝐻2 O → 4F𝑒 2+ + 4S𝑂2−2 + 4𝐻 +
• Weathering of pyrite in the presence of oxygen
and water to produce iron(II), sulfate, and
hydrogen ions.
Reaction 2
• 4𝐹𝑒 2+ +7𝑂2 + 2𝐻2 𝑂→ 4𝐹𝑒 3+ +2𝐻2 𝑂
• Oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III)
 Reaction 3
2𝐹𝑒 3+ + 12𝐻2 𝑂 → 4Fe(𝑂𝐻)3 + 12𝐻 +
 Hydrolysis of Fe(III)
 Precipitation of iron(III) hydroxide if pH > 3.5
Reaction 4
 Fe𝑆2 + 14𝐹𝑒 3+ + 8𝐻2 𝑂 → 15𝐹𝑒 2+ + 2𝑆𝑂42− + 16𝐻+
 Oxidation of additional pyrite (from steps 1 and 2) by Fe(III)
here iron is the oxidizing agent, not oxygen.
 OVERALL REACTION
4Fe𝑆2 + 15𝑂2 + 14𝐻2 𝑂 → 4Fe(𝑂𝐻)3 + 8𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4
Water resources
 Increased acidity
 Depleted oxygen
 Increased weathering of minerals
WITWATERSRAND ACID MINE DRAINAGE
 Acid mine drainage on the Witwatersrand has reached a crisis point. This is
because some mining companies allow acid mine water to flow into streams, dams
and sources of groundwater.
 In particular, the report lists 18 pipelines on the Witwatersrand that it places in
category five, the highest possible risk category.
 It also warns of a potential threat to other metallic infrastructure, including gas
pipelines and railway tracks.
 AMD is highly acidic water, usually containing high concentrations of metals,
sulphides and salts because of mining activity.
 Management of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Witwatersrand mining
region
 Firstly, emergency works were needed in Witwatersrand gold fields, and these
included the installation of pumps, construction of water treatment plants, and
release of treated water into river systems
 The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) had to obtain environmental and regulatory
approvals, and seek funding from National Treasury, in order to advise and assist on
future operations and maintenance model.
 At the moment, there were three basins being monitored, and in the Western
Basin, there were specific treatment works, because the water was currently
considered too high.
 There are many sources of acid mine drainage such as seepage from tailings
storage facilities, contaminated wetlands and rivers, open pits, waste rock
dumps, and secondary sources of contaminants that remain in the soil after a
dump has been removed. They are not addressed in the current treatment of
acid mine drainage.
 There are no proactive management plans in place by the South African
government to cope with the flooding and possible decant [overflow] of water
from the Far Western Basin
 Witwatersrand divided into 4 underground Basins
 Eastern Basin; Nigel to Germiston
 Central Basin; Germiston to Roodepoort (including Johannesburg);
 Western Basin; Krugersdorp to Randfontein.
 Far Western Basin; Westonarea to Carletonville.
THE WAY FORWARD
 Complex decisions needs to be made, requiring much information
 Department of water affaires do not have access to all the required
information
 Department of water affaires(DWA) doing a project with DMR to collate
information, specifically on the State’s liabilities
 More information from mines will facilitate the alignment between DWA
and DMR strategies and best practice guidelines.
 Conclusion
 Acid mine drainage greatly influences water quality and has high
environmental and ecological impacts
 Although it would be perfect to prevent the generation of acid mine
drainage, many times it is not completely possible, requiring corrective
techniques to reduce or remove contamination from water.
 The importance of an interactive protocol with clear
 management objectives and procedures is vital to successful
rehabilitation of such sites and long-term protection of the environment.
REFERENCES

 www.wikipedia.com/aciddrange
 The heat-of-acid-mine-drainage-2018-05
 Environmental news south Africa a rising acid tied on Witwatersrand
 AIDC environmental risk on acid drainage.
 Clean up of acid drainage on Witwatersrand 2017-08-9-9998
 Mercury cycle in japan-poisoning
 The Minamata diseases in japan-2003-document
 Documentary of methylmercury in japan-journal of Steven fork
 www.coursehero/mercurycycle.com