Mechanistic Evidence for Hg Removal from Wastewater by Biologically Produced Sulfur

Abstract

A significant quantity of biologically produced sulfur (BPS) is generated as a by-product of chemical and biological desulfurization processes applied to landfill gas treatment. The beneficial upcycling of BPS has seen limited use in the environmental context. The effectiveness and underlying mechanism of BPS as an adsorbent for removing Hg2+ from both solution and wastewater were elucidated based on experiments encompassing surface characterization, adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics. The BPS exhibited remarkable efficacy in removing Hg2+ from solution, with the Langmuir model accurately describing the adsorption process and showing a maximum adsorption capacity of 244 mg g−1. Surface analysis through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that Hg2+ complexed with sulfide on BPS surfaces, forming stable HgS. The adsorbed Hg was strongly retained in BPS, with less than 0.2% of the adsorbed Hg desorbed by strong acids. Adsorption kinetics followed the double-exponential first-order model, showing an initial rapid adsorption phase wherein 75% of the initial Hg2+ was removed within 5 min, followed by a slower adsorption rate. The thermodynamic parameters suggested that adsorption of Hg2+ by BPS was a spontaneous and endothermic process. Additionally, BPS effectively removed Hg2+ from wastewater, showing preference for Hg over other co-existing metals. These findings underscore the potential of BPS as an effective adsorbent for Hg2+ removal from wastewater.