J. Phys. IV France 107 (2003) 711
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030402

Heterogeneous scavenging of atmospheric mercury by snow spiked with hydrogen peroxide

N. Lahoutifard¹, L. Poissant² and S.L. Scott<sup>1, 3

1</sup>  Department of Chemistry, University of Ottawa, 10 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada
²  Meteorological Service, Environment Canada, 105 rue McGill, Montréal, Québec H2Y 2E7, Canada
³  Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, U.S.A.

Abstract

The combined effect of light and hydrogen peroxide on the ability of surface snow to scavenge atmospheric mercury was investigated in Kuujjuarapik, Nunavik, Canada (latitude 55°N). Mercury concentrations in the snowpack increased five-fold upon spiking with hydrogen peroxide under solar irradiation. Anion analysis of the snow revealed the presence of chloride, which may stabilize Hg(lI). Measurements of total inorganic and organic carbon showed that both kinds of carbon content decreased in the spiked irradiated snow samples.

© EDP Sciences 2003