Influence of chloride and Fe(II) content on the reduction of Hg(II) by magnetite.

Abiotic reduction of inorganic mercury by natural organic matter and native soils is well-known, and recently there is evidence that reduced iron (Fe) species, such as magnetite, green rust, and Fe sulfides, can also reduce Hg(II). Here, we evaluated the reduction of Hg(II) by magnetites with varying Fe(II) content in both the absence and presence of chloride. Specifically, we evaluated whether magnetite stoichiometry (x = Fe(II)/Fe(III)) influences the rate of Hg(II) reduction and formation of products.