PHOTOCHEMICAL METHYLATION OF INORGANIC MERCURY IN THE PRESENCE OF SOLID SULFUR

Abstract The photosensitized methylation of inorganic mercury in the presence of solid sulfur was investigated in an aqueous acetic acid solution of mercuric acetate. It was found that the photooxidation of sulfur into sulfate ions coupled with the reduction of mercuric ions and the resulting sulfate ions reacted with mercuric acetate to produce basic mercuric sulfate, a yellow precipitate, which acted as an effective photosensitizer for the methylation.