Desorption of Hg(II) and Sb(V) on extracellular polymeric substances: Effects of pH, EDTA, Ca(II) and temperature shocks

- Adsorption-desorption behaviors of Hg(II) and Sb(V) on EPS were investigated.
- Effects of EDTA, Ca(II), pH and temperature shocks on desorption kinetics were studied.
- Hg(II) and Sb(V) were bound with polysaccharides and protein-like compounds, respectively.
- EPS-Hg complex is a time bomb that may release Hg(II) in short time period under shocks.