Comparison of extractants used for the assessment of mercury availability in a soil from the Almaden mining district (Spain)

Single extraction methods have been extensively used to assess the availability of metals in polluted soils. This work focused on checking the feasibility of several chemicals, i.e. CaCl2, EDTA, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and a low-molecular-weight organic acid mixture (rhizosphere-based method), to be used as extractants for mercury (Hg) in a soil from the Almaden mining district (Spain). Moreover, the effect of several experimental parameters, i.e. extraction time (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 16 and 24 h), concentration of extractant (0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 1 M) and soil/extractant ratio (1: 2, 1: 5 and 1: 10), on the amount of Hg extracted was investigated. The Hg extraction ability followed the descending order EDTA > rhizosphere-based method > DTPA approximate to CaCl2. This ranking was attributed to the higher complexation power of EDTA and organic acids. It was also found that extraction times between 2 and 5 h are required to avoid underestimation of mobile Hg and re-adsorption of the Hg previously extracted. Although some exceptions were found, Hg extraction efficiency was generally enhanced with higher extractant concentrations. Finally, the amount of Hg extracted by the four extractants increased with decreasing soil/extractant ratios.