Modeling the Adsorption of Mercury(II) on (Hydr)oxides II: alpha-FeOOH (Goethite) and Amorphous Silica.

The surface complexation model is used to describe sorption experiments of inorganic mercury(II) in the presence of an amorphous silica, Aerosil 200, or an iron (hydr)oxide, the goethite alpha-FeOOH (Bayferrox 910). In the simulations, one assumes the formation of a monodentate surface complex &tbond;S&bond;OHg(+) and of ternary surface complexes with OH(-) surface groups, &tbond;S&bond;OHgOH and &tbond;S&bond;OHgCl, when chlorides are present in solution. Participation of the complex &tbond;S&bond;OHgCl has been especially evidenced.