| Abstract Title: | The Reduction and Emissions of Mercury through Biotic Processes in Natural Soils |
| Presenter Name: | Darrien Maynard |
| Company/Institution: | John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) |
| Session: | Mercury Emissions: Monitoring and Analysis |
| Co-Authors: | Darrien Maynard,Kimberly Nunez |
Abstract Information :
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal that can easily transition between oxidation states and move through the environment. Soil serves as both a sink of atmospheric mercury and as a source, after the reduction of divalent mercury in soil to elemental mercury. While the leading mechanisms proposed by which mercury is emitted from the soil to the atmosphere are thought to be physical and geochemical processes, this work seeks to understand the contribution of biological processes to the soil mercury cycle. Specifically, we looked at whether the stimulation of mercury emissions in the presence of water could be linked to biological processes. To stimulate biological activity in soil samples, various amounts of LB Broth were added to soil samples as a substrate for microbial activity. To suppress biological activity, we used autoclaving, UV light sterilization, and the addition of Levofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Mercury emissions were measured using a Teflon? dynamic flux chamber and a Tekran 2537X Mercury Analyzer. The results of these experiments will be presented in detail.
