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Volume 14
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Article

Alkaline Decomposition Kinetics in Ca(OH)2 Medium of Mercury Jarosite

by
Sayra Ordoñez
1,*,
Rubén H. Olcay
2,
Francisco Patiño
3,
Hernán Islas
3,
J. Eliecer Méndez
1,
Mizraim U. Flores
1,
Iván A. Reyes
4,5,
Miriam Estrada
1,4,* and
Miguel Pérez
6
1
Industrial Electromechanics Area, Technological University of Tulancingo, Tulancingo 43642, Mexico
2
Department of Metallurgical and Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Arturo Prat University, Arturo Prat Avenue 2120, Iquique 1110939, Chile
3
Energy Engineering, Metropolitan Polytechnic University of Hidalgo, Tolcayuca 43860, Mexico
4
Institute of Metallurgy, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78210, Mexico
5
SECIHTI Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation, Mexico City 03940, Mexico
6
Academic Area of Earth Sciences and Materials, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Mineral de la Reforma 42183, Mexico
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Toxics 2026, 14(4), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040293
Submission received: 2 March 2026 / Revised: 20 March 2026 / Accepted: 26 March 2026 / Published: 28 March 2026
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Abstract

Mercury in jarosites is crucial for environmental management and metallurgy. These minerals can incorporate highly toxic heavy metals from mining waste into their structure. This study analyzes the decomposition of mercury jarosite in a Ca(OH)2 medium, focusing on its topological, kinetic, and modeling characteristics. Topological analysis, XRD and SEM−EDS were performed. ICP−OES was used to analyze the mercury and sulfur ions diffusing from the mercury jarosite into the Ca(OH)2 solution. The kinetic model that best fit the data was that of spherical particles of constant size with an unreacted core under chemical control. The XRD results did not show new crystallographic phases. SEM−EDS showed a partially decomposed particle indicating a halo and core. The experimental conditions included temperatures from 298.15 to 333.15 K, concentrations of 0.0071–0.23210 mol L−1 Ca(OH)2, particle diameters of 25–53 µm, and pH of 11.12–12.85. During the induction period, reaction orders of 1.04 and 0.44 were obtained, along with an activation energy of 77.580 kJ mol−1. For the progressive conversion period, the reaction orders were 0.59 and 0.15, with an activation energy of 52.124 kJ mol−1. The overall kinetic modeling showed favorable results, supporting the evolutionary process of the mercury jarosite decomposition reaction in an alkaline medium under different conditions. This allows prediction of when mercury could be released back into the environment in alkaline soils or lime barriers.
Keywords: reaction kinetics; mercury jarosite; reaction topology; decomposition; controlling stage; kinetics modeling reaction kinetics; mercury jarosite; reaction topology; decomposition; controlling stage; kinetics modeling
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MDPI and ACS Style

Ordoñez, S.; Olcay, R.H.; Patiño, F.; Islas, H.; Méndez, J.E.; Flores, M.U.; Reyes, I.A.; Estrada, M.; Pérez, M. Alkaline Decomposition Kinetics in Ca(OH)2 Medium of Mercury Jarosite. Toxics 2026, 14, 293. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040293

AMA Style

Ordoñez S, Olcay RH, Patiño F, Islas H, Méndez JE, Flores MU, Reyes IA, Estrada M, Pérez M. Alkaline Decomposition Kinetics in Ca(OH)2 Medium of Mercury Jarosite. Toxics. 2026; 14(4):293. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040293

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ordoñez, Sayra, Rubén H. Olcay, Francisco Patiño, Hernán Islas, J. Eliecer Méndez, Mizraim U. Flores, Iván A. Reyes, Miriam Estrada, and Miguel Pérez. 2026. "Alkaline Decomposition Kinetics in Ca(OH)2 Medium of Mercury Jarosite" Toxics 14, no. 4: 293. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040293

APA Style

Ordoñez, S., Olcay, R. H., Patiño, F., Islas, H., Méndez, J. E., Flores, M. U., Reyes, I. A., Estrada, M., & Pérez, M. (2026). Alkaline Decomposition Kinetics in Ca(OH)2 Medium of Mercury Jarosite. Toxics, 14(4), 293. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics14040293

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