Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques
Mercury is a serious neurotoxic agent, and the control and monitoring of emissions are important. Optical spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measurement of mercury, which in the atmosphere predominantly appears in atomic form. The mercury resonance line close to 254 nm can be utilized in long-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/7/1124 |
| _version_ | 1797590290281791488 |
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| author | Sune Svanberg |
| author_facet | Sune Svanberg |
| author_sort | Sune Svanberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mercury is a serious neurotoxic agent, and the control and monitoring of emissions are important. Optical spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measurement of mercury, which in the atmosphere predominantly appears in atomic form. The mercury resonance line close to 254 nm can be utilized in long-path absorption measurements of average concentrations or in light detection and ranging (lidar) studies, where range-resolved concentration values can be obtained. In addition, point monitors often use optical detection, frequently after pre-concentration, as well as for mercury compounds in conjunction with denuders, which transfer the compounds into atomic mercury. The present review discusses mercury measurement methods with respect to merits and sensitivity to interference. The main focus is on remote-sensing techniques, and many examples from industrial and mining monitoring are given. Further, mercury emissions related to the extraction of geothermal energy are discussed. Finally, an example from archaeology—the Qin tomb in Xi’an—is presented. Advanced measurement techniques can help in shaping an environment largely free from mercury contamination. Further, the aspect of mercury being an important geophysical tracer gas can also be exploited. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:19:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48401c0e55e14d54b794b4c18e9994f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:19:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-48401c0e55e14d54b794b4c18e9994f22023-11-18T18:15:50ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-07-01147112410.3390/atmos14071124Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical TechniquesSune Svanberg0Physics Department, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenMercury is a serious neurotoxic agent, and the control and monitoring of emissions are important. Optical spectroscopy is a powerful technique for measurement of mercury, which in the atmosphere predominantly appears in atomic form. The mercury resonance line close to 254 nm can be utilized in long-path absorption measurements of average concentrations or in light detection and ranging (lidar) studies, where range-resolved concentration values can be obtained. In addition, point monitors often use optical detection, frequently after pre-concentration, as well as for mercury compounds in conjunction with denuders, which transfer the compounds into atomic mercury. The present review discusses mercury measurement methods with respect to merits and sensitivity to interference. The main focus is on remote-sensing techniques, and many examples from industrial and mining monitoring are given. Further, mercury emissions related to the extraction of geothermal energy are discussed. Finally, an example from archaeology—the Qin tomb in Xi’an—is presented. Advanced measurement techniques can help in shaping an environment largely free from mercury contamination. Further, the aspect of mercury being an important geophysical tracer gas can also be exploited.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/7/1124atomic mercurypollutionoptical monitoringlidargeothermal energymining |
| spellingShingle | Sune Svanberg Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques Atmosphere atomic mercury pollution optical monitoring lidar geothermal energy mining |
| title | Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques |
| title_full | Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques |
| title_short | Monitoring Atmospheric Atomic Mercury by Optical Techniques |
| title_sort | monitoring atmospheric atomic mercury by optical techniques |
| topic | atomic mercury pollution optical monitoring lidar geothermal energy mining |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/7/1124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sunesvanberg monitoringatmosphericatomicmercurybyopticaltechniques |