Chemistry and stability of precipitates from aqueous solutions of 2,4,6-trimercaptotriazine, trisodium salt, nonahydrate (TMT-55) and mercury (II) chloride
Kr. Henke et al., Chemistry and stability of precipitates from aqueous solutions of 2,4,6-trimercaptotriazine, trisodium salt, nonahydrate (TMT-55) and mercury (II) chloride, WATER RES, 34(11), 2000, pp. 3005-3013
2,4,6-trimercaptotriazine. trisodium salt, nonahydrate (TMT-55) is a planar
C-3 symmetric compound that is used commercially to precipitate mercury an
d other heavy metals from waste waters and contaminated natural waters. A s
eries of laboratory experiments and analyses were performed to evaluate the
chemistry and stability of mercury trimercaptotriazine "Hg-TMT" precipitat
es that result from the addition of aqueous solutions of TMT-55 to aqueous
solutions of mercury(II) chloride (HgCl2). Several Hg-TMT species exist, mo
st of which were previously unrecognized. The leaching properties, chemistr
y and long-term stability of the solids are very diverse. As examples, the
white and yellow varieties of Hg-TMT are often unstable in both water and a
ir, and may release more than 6000 mu g/l of mercury into distilled and dei
onized water leachates. Although waste waters and contaminated ground water
s are likely to contain less mercury than the HgCl2 solutions used in this
study, individuals should recognize that any Hg-TMT compounds are likely to
be chemically complex and perhaps unstable under aqueous or atmospheric co
nditions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.