Geochemical speciation of mercury in bauxite

The presence of trace concentrations of mercury in bauxite is a potential environmental concern in the Bayer alumina refining process. An understanding of the geochemical speciation of mercury in bauxite provides insight into the behavior of mercury in the Bayer process. The speciation of mercury wa...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Staun, C., Vaughan, J., López Antón, María Antonia, Rumayor Villamil, Marta, Martínez Tarazona, María Rosa
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:digitalcsic_::6bb56bde6c03da15cdb697695f937b04
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/170946
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Mercury
Bauxites
Speciation
Thermal desorption
Sequential extraction
Descripción
Sumario:The presence of trace concentrations of mercury in bauxite is a potential environmental concern in the Bayer alumina refining process. An understanding of the geochemical speciation of mercury in bauxite provides insight into the behavior of mercury in the Bayer process. The speciation of mercury was evaluated using a novel continuous thermal desorption methodology, sequential extractions, alkaline digestion, aqua regia digestion and hydrofluoric acid total dissolution assay. Thermal desorption demonstrated two distinct mercury forms. Labile mercury was found to be present as metacinnabar or organic-associated mercury, while refractory mercury was associated with quartz or other refractory silicates.