Adsorption and desorption of Hg(II) by three typical soils around the chlor-alkali industry

A series of batch experiments were conducted to assess the adsorption/desorption of Hg(II) within meadow soil, fluvo-aquic soil, and gray desert soil around the chlor-alkali industry in China. Results demonstrated that the descending order of the adsorptive capacity of Hg(II) to the three typical soils around a chlor-alkali plant, i.e., meadow soil (4536.24 mg/kg), fluvo-aquic soil (1598.62 mg/kg), gray desert soil (1272.51 mg/kg), and the soil organic matter, had a significant role in Hg(II) adsorption. Kinetic studies revealed that the Hg adsorption in the three soils was characterized with a fast stage and a slow stage. The Hg(II) adsorption rates are the highest for the fluvo-aquic soil, followed by the meadow soil, and then the gray desert soil. The results will play a guiding role in arid-zone soil pollution control and treatment, which will be a reference for the Northwest Oasis Environmental mercury pollution studies and integrated control in China.