Removal of inorganic mercury from polluted water using structured nanoparticles

This paper presents a process for the removal of inorganic mercury from aqueous Solutions using alumina nanoparticles, which were prepared by the sol-gel method. Different amounts of mercury were added to the particles until a critical concentration was achieved, thus inducing the alumina sol flocculation. Particle growth was monitored during the process using dynamic light scattering. The amount of metal ion adsorbed on the surface of the alumina sols was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Initial mercury concentrations ranging between 50 and 100 ppm decreased to below 1 ppb in a short time.