Removal of mercury(II) and methylmercury from solution by tannin adsorbents

Adsorption of mercury(II) and methylmercury by two tannin sorbents was inve stigated using radiotracers. High sorption capacities for mercury are regis tered for both sorbents at pH 7. For Eucaliptus Saligna Sm sorbent (ETS) th e maximum sorption capacity was 1.2+/-0.2 mmol/g and for Lysiloma latisiliq ua sorbent (LTS) was 8.5+/-0.2 mmol/g. Methylmercury adsorption maximum was recorded at pH 4 and in buffered solutions at pH2. This species can be rec overed in the presence of mercury(II). Influence of different ions present in water was examined. High recoveries were reported for ETS in tap water s amples but a decrease of uptake is observed for seawater.