Studies on the Origin of the Causative Agent of Minamata Disease Report VIII On the Formation of Methyl Mercury Compounds in an Acetaldehyde Plant

Methyl Mercury Compounds Formed from the Reaction of Acetaldehyde and Inorganic Mercury Compounds

Abstract

1) An organomercury compound with the same Rf value on the thin-layer chromatogram as methylmercuric hydroxide was detected in the mixtures of acetaldehyde and mercuric oxide or basic mercuric sulfate. When chloride was added to the above mixtures, an organomercury compound having the same Rf value as methylmercuric chloride was formed.
2) The reaction of acetaldehyde and mercuric oxide yielded two mercury compounds as crystals. One of them was identified as mercuric acetate by IR spectrum, elementary analyses, melting point determination and chemical properties. Methylmercuric chloride was extracted from the mixture of mercuric acetate and sodium chloride into chloroform and recrystallized from ethanol.