Environmental Chemistry SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF MERCURY METHYLATION AND DEMETHYLATION CAPACITIES OF VARIOUS SULFATE-REDUCING BACTERIA USING SPECIES-SPECIFIC ISOTOPIC TRACERS

MOUROUXUniversite´ de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, Pau, France(Submitted 19 April 2010; Returned for Revision 19 July 2010; Accepted 26 August 2010)Abstract—Theuseofspecies-specific isotopictracers forinorganicandmethylmercuryhasallowedthesimultaneousdeterminationofthe methylation and demethylation potentials of pure culture of isolated sulfate-reducing (SR) bacterial strains using low Hg speciesconcentrationlevels(7mg/L