Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out
of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and
spatial patterns

J 2023

Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns

NAVRÁTIL, Tomáš, Jan ROHOVEC, James SHANLEY, Šárka MATOUŠKOVÁ, Tereza NOVÁKOVÁ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns

Authors

NAVRÁTIL, Tomáš, Jan ROHOVEC, James SHANLEY, Šárka MATOUŠKOVÁ, Tereza NOVÁKOVÁ, Adéla HOLUBOVÁ ŠMEJKALOVÁ and Roman PROKEŠ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Springer, 2023, 0944-1344

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10511 Environmental sciences

Country of publisher

Germany

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 5.800 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/23:00133468

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2

UT WoS

001122310000005

Keywords in English

Gaseous elemental mercury; Particle-bound mercury; Hg emissions; Chlor-alkali plant; Legacy mercury; Spolana Neratovice; Czech Republic; Central Europe

Abstract

V originále

Large amounts of mercury (Hg) were consumed and emitted into the atmosphere during the process of amalgam electrolysis used to produce chlorine and caustic soda since the nineteenth century. In Europe, amalgam electrolysis has been gradually replaced by advanced Hg-free technologies. In this work, we describe changes in atmospheric Hg and bulk Hg wet deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolytic production line of a chlor-alkali plant in Neratovice, Czech Republic, central Europe. Bulk wet deposition Hg near the chlor-alkali plant was low at 3.6 ± 0.8 μg m−2 year−1 due in part to low annual precipitation amounts (486 ± 97 mm) in the period 2015–2021. Nevertheless, Hg deposition was elevated relative to a nearby reference site both before and after decommissioning of the electrolytic line. Switching off the amalgam electrolytic line did not notably affect bulk wet deposition Hg near the chlor-alkali plant. Levels of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) and particle-bound Hg (PBM) monitored seasonally four times per year over 24-h time periods indicated rapid declines in four nearby settlements set in cardinal directions from the Hg emission source. Mean atmospheric GEM and PBM concentrations decreased rapidly from 9.0 ± 2.1 ng m−3 and 243 ± 255 pg m−3 in the period 2013–2017 when amalgam electrolysis was operating to 3.3 ± 0.4 ng m−3 and 32 ± 6 pg m−3 in the period 2018–2021 after its decommissioning in November 2017. Seasonal changes of GEM coincided with changes in temperature with the highest concentrations in summer, while PBM air levels were lowest in summer due to the highest seasonal precipitation amount. GEM concentrations at the four monitored settlements at Neratovice remained elevated at 2.8 ng m−3 with respect to regional background, but PBM levels decreased to background levels.

Citovat

NAVRÁTIL, Tomáš, Jan ROHOVEC, James SHANLEY, Šárka MATOUŠKOVÁ, Tereza NOVÁKOVÁ, Adéla HOLUBOVÁ ŠMEJKALOVÁ and Roman PROKEŠ. Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Springer, 2023, vol. 30, No 59, p. 123586-123602. ISSN 0944-1344. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2.

@article{2370657,
   author = {Navrátil, Tomáš and Rohovec, Jan and Shanley, James and Matoušková, Šárka and Nováková, Tereza and Holubová Šmejkalová, Adéla and Prokeš, Roman},
   article_number = {59},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2},
   keywords = {Gaseous elemental mercury; Particle-bound mercury; Hg emissions; Chlor-alkali plant; Legacy mercury; Spolana Neratovice; Czech Republic; Central Europe},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0944-1344},
   journal = {Environmental Science and Pollution Research},
   title = {Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns},
   url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2},
   volume = {30},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2370657
AU  - Navrátil, Tomáš - Rohovec, Jan - Shanley, James - Matoušková, Šárka - Nováková, Tereza - Holubová Šmejkalová, Adéla - Prokeš, Roman
PY  - 2023
TI  - Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns
JF  - Environmental Science and Pollution Research
VL  - 30
IS  - 59
SP  - 123586-123602
EP  - 123586-123602
PB  - Springer
SN  - 09441344
KW  - Gaseous elemental mercury
KW  - Particle-bound mercury
KW  - Hg emissions
KW  - Chlor-alkali plant
KW  - Legacy mercury
KW  - Spolana Neratovice
KW  - Czech Republic
KW  - Central Europe
UR  - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2
N2  - Large amounts of mercury (Hg) were consumed and emitted into the atmosphere during the process of amalgam electrolysis used to produce chlorine and caustic soda since the nineteenth century. In Europe, amalgam electrolysis has been gradually replaced by advanced Hg-free technologies. In this work, we describe changes in atmospheric Hg and bulk Hg wet deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolytic production line of a chlor-alkali plant in Neratovice, Czech Republic, central Europe. Bulk wet deposition Hg near the chlor-alkali plant was low at 3.6 ± 0.8 μg m−2 year−1 due in part to low annual precipitation amounts (486 ± 97 mm) in the period 2015–2021. Nevertheless, Hg deposition was elevated relative to a nearby reference site both before and after decommissioning of the electrolytic line. Switching off the amalgam electrolytic line did not notably affect bulk wet deposition Hg near the chlor-alkali plant. Levels of gaseous elemental Hg (GEM) and particle-bound Hg (PBM) monitored seasonally four times per year over 24-h time periods indicated rapid declines in four nearby settlements set in cardinal directions from the Hg emission source. Mean atmospheric GEM and PBM concentrations decreased rapidly from 9.0 ± 2.1 ng m−3 and 243 ± 255 pg m−3 in the period 2013–2017 when amalgam electrolysis was operating to 3.3 ± 0.4 ng m−3 and 32 ± 6 pg m−3 in the period 2018–2021 after its decommissioning in November 2017. Seasonal changes of GEM coincided with changes in temperature with the highest concentrations in summer, while PBM air levels were lowest in summer due to the highest seasonal precipitation amount. GEM concentrations at the four monitored settlements at Neratovice remained elevated at 2.8 ng m−3 with respect to regional background, but PBM levels decreased to background levels.
ER  -

NAVRÁTIL, Tomáš, Jan ROHOVEC, James SHANLEY, Šárka MATOUŠKOVÁ, Tereza NOVÁKOVÁ, Adéla HOLUBOVÁ ŠMEJKALOVÁ and Roman PROKEŠ. Atmospheric mercury and its deposition during the phasing out of an amalgam electrolysis plant: temporal, seasonal, and spatial patterns. \textit{Environmental Science and Pollution Research}. Springer, 2023, vol.~30, No~59, p.~123586-123602. ISSN~0944-1344. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30784-2.

Detailed Information on Publication Record