Extraction of Hg(I), Hg(II) and methylmercury using polyethylene glycol based aqueous biphasic system

Extraction behavior of three different salts of mercury, HgCl2, Hg2Cl2 and CH3HgCl, were studied in a polyethylene glycol based aqueous biphasic extraction system (ABS). The results were compared with extraction pattern in a liquid–liquid system using methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK), against HCl and a solid chelating ion exchanger, Chelex 100. The results showed a variable extent of partitioning of different salts of mercury using MIBK and Chelex 100 as ion exchangers. However, when ABS was employed, complete extractions of all the three species of mercury were achieved irrespective of their chemical form.