Mercury removal from aqueous and organo-aqueous solutions by natural Mexican erionite

The sorption of Hg(II) from aqueous and organo aqueous solutions was investigated by Mexican natural erionite. The mercury chemical species (anionic, cationic or neutral) were determined by high voltage electrophoresis, and the mercury chemical species present in the aqueous media were simulated by a program MEDUSA. The mercury sorption process was monitored during 48 hours. The mercury content was determined by neutron activation analysis. Mixtures of benzene/water[Hg(II)], toluene/water[Hg(II)] and ethanol/water[Hg(II)] were chosen as organo-aqueous media. It was found that both the mercury chemical species and the dielectric constant of solvents play an important role in the mercury sorption by erionite.