Photoreduction of Hg(II) by typical dissolved organic matter in paddy environments

The photochemical behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in surface water and its effect on Hg(II) photoreduction has been extensively studied, but the contribution of DOM in paddy water to Hg(II) photoreduction is largely unknown. Herein, the effect of DOM from biochar (BCDOM), rice straw (RSDOM), and chicken manure (CMDOM) on Hg(II) photoreduction were examined. The comparable reduction efficiency of Hg(II) suggested that DOM-like fraction (62.3–63.7%) contributes more than suspended particulate matter-like fraction (17.7–23.4%) and bacteria-like fraction (13.0–20.0%) in paddy water. Under irradiation, the typical DOM significantly promoted Hg(II) photoreduction, and the reduction efficiency of BCDOM (65.5 ± 2.1%) was higher than that of CMDOM (48.3 ± 2.6%) and RSDOM (32.8 ± 2.4%) in 6 h. The quenching and kinetics experiments showed that superoxide anion (O2•−) was the main reactive species for Hg(II) photoreduction. Fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry revealed that DOM with a higher degree of lignin/carboxy-rich acyclic molecules, condensed aromatics structures, and phenolic compounds could promote the formation of O2•−. These findings highlight the importance of DOM in Hg(II) photoreduction and provide new ideas for regulating Hg cycling and bioavailability in paddy environments. [Display omitted] •DOM was crucial for Hg(II) photoreduction in natural paddy water.•O2•− was the dominant reactive species for Hg(II) photoreduction.•The lignin, aromatic, and phenolic compounds were susceptible to produce O2•−.