Novel Approaches for the Remediation of Mercury

Mercury, is a potent neurotoxin, and can present a risk to both humans and the wider environment. Historically mercury has entered the environment by numerous processes these include: coal burning, cement production, smelting, incineration, acetaldehyde production, chloralkali production and the manufacture of various items including batteries, lights and pesticides. These mercury related industrial activities are covered by the Minamata Convention, a multilateral environmental treaty agreed by over 140 countries in 2013 and its uses are gradually being phased out. These historic uses have the potential to contaminate land and water resources on and around the associated sites. These sites may require remediation to reduce the risks associated with mercury poisoning and bring them back into beneficial reuse.
The focus of this EPSRC CASE PhD is to develop and apply novel approaches for the investigation of mercury speciation in the environment, its environmental impact and remediation. It will focus on applying state of the art techniques to identify the chemical speciation and fate of mercury in different environmental settings (for example sludge's, soils and marine sediments) dependent on the industrial scenario and developing novel remediation systems for mercury using (1) microbial processes and (2) novel nano and micron scale particles and (3) other allied novel treatment strategies.
Initial tasks will include a comprehensive review of recent contamination problems where mercury has been the main contaminant of concern, and risk assessment protocols used for land contaminated by this toxic metal (see Phipps et al 2013). The application of novel microbial based remediation methods and microbially synthesised iron materials will then be assessed in batch and column studies, comparing performance for mercury remediation with other commercially available materials and approaches. A detailed understanding of the fate of mercury in these experiments will be undertaken, using state of the art mineralogical and surface science techniques, including synchrotron approaches, and finally a cost appraisal of the effectiveness of any remediation method will be developed against existing technologies, with help from the industrial partners.
This project will have benefit of the extensive experience gained by staff at the University of Manchester on the investigation of microbial-metal interactions and on the development of novel biotechnological processes for the remediation of metals in soil and groundwater. The project will build upon the success of recent UK and EU funded projects, including the flagship EU project "Nanorem" (www.nanorem.eu/), addressing the long-term performance of novel, highly reactive microbially-synthesized iron nanoparticles, compared to synthetic analogues and other biotechnological processes (e.g. in situ biostimulation). The ultimate aim of this project will be to provide further knowledge on the biogeochemical cycling of mercury in the environment and strategies to enable its appropriate risk assessment and remediation for field deployment. The impact of the research has the potential to be significant, with the industrial support of both WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff and Akzo Nobel, preparing the student for a career in academia, consultancy or industry.
The student will join a vibrant, cross-disciplinary team (25+ active researchers) working in recently refurbished and newly equipped laboratories in the Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science. The opportunity will also exist to spend time with the industrial partners during this project.