水中に存在する金属水銀の挙動におよぼすFe³⁺の影響

抄録

Addition of Fe³⁺ to water containing metallic mercury increased the dissolved mercury (I) concentration, and gas-agitation of the solution allowed the dissolved mercury to volatilize readily at an enriched concentration.
From the results of chemical analysis of the solution, the above phenomenon can be explained as follows :
Fe³⁺ and metallic mercury interact to form Hg²⁺ and Fe²⁺, after which Hg²⁺ disproportinates into Hg²⁺ and Hg^o, and Hg^o volatilizes. Moreover, Hg²⁺ is reduced to Hg²⁺ by Fe²⁺, which becomes oxidized to Fe³⁺. The Fe³⁺ formed reacts again with metallic mercury.
A cycle involving these reactions enhances dissolution and volatilization of the mercury.