Ultra-Efficient Removal of Mercury from Contaminated Water using Selected Phenylimidazole Derivatives

Abstract

AbstractHeterocycles, including imidazole derivatives, are important chemicals due to their structural similarity to active natural molecules. This study explored the utilization of phenylimidazole derivatives for mercury removal from aqueous solutions. Three derivatives were tested, including one harboring a sulfhydryl functional group, thus offering distinct mercury-binding capabilities. Mercury binding experiments revealed modest mercury binding by two derivatives. However, extraordinary efficiency of mercury binding by the sulfhydryl-bearing compound was demonstrated through a reduction in mercury concentrations in pure water by 43-fold in just 15 min and decreasing below the analytical detection limit with prolonged exposure (30 min). Moreover, the ultra-efficiency of mercury binding was demonstrated by a capability to reduce mercury concentrations even in highly contaminated environmental water sample by a factor exceeding 1200-fold in 20 h, using minimal amounts of the compound. This phenylimidazole derivative exhibited comparable efficiency in binding mercury from authentic environmental water samples, hinting at practical applications for real-world remediation efforts. Kinetic investigations showed a pseudo-first order reaction with a rate constant of 0.26 min−1 and half-life of 2.69 min that governs mercury binding to this phenylimidazole derivative. These findings underscore the potential of the sulfhydryl-containing phenylimidazole derivative, as swift and effective binding material for aqueous mercury removal. Its rapid action, coupled with binding efficiency, suggests a promising material for addressing mercury contamination in highly contaminated environmental water samples.