Determination of Methyl Mercury in a Pilot-scale Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Plant

The methylation of mercury has been investigated and documented mainly in sediments, fish and microorganisms, while limited number of relevant studies is available for wastewater. The procedure of mercury methylation can occur via biological pathway (by microorganisms) and via chemical or photochemical reactions. Methylation of mercury occurs mainly under anaerobic conditions, but some studies have shown its existence also under aerobic conditions. The resulting concentration of methyl mercury, which is a highly toxic compound, depends on the specific rates of methylation/demethylation of mercury. The factors affecting these procedures are the availability of inorganic mercury, pH, organic matter concentration, microbial activity, redox potential and temperature. Bacteria which can methylate mercury are often present in wastewater, and, therefore, the formation of methyl mercury during wastewater treatment is possible. The objective of the present investigation was the determination of methyl mercury in a pilotscale activated sludge wastewater treatment plant supplied with synthetic wastewater enriched with mercury. For this purpose, a Liquid-Liquid Extraction / Simultaneous Derivatization GC/MS method was developed and applied for the analysis of samples from the aeration tank, from the treatment plant effluent and from the sludge. Methyl mercury was not detected in the samples (detection limit 0.07 μg l), leading to the conclusion that mercury is not methylated under the particular experimental conditions of the pilot-scale water treatment plant.