Science. 1973 Apr 13;180(4082):192-3. doi: 10.1126/science.180.4082.192.
During the first 50 days of a long-term period of incubation of lake sediments with inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)), low concentrations of methylinercury were observed to build up. Upon continued incubation there was a rapid decrease in amount of methylmercury in the system and a concomitant evolution of volatile inorganic mercury (Hg(0)). Transfer of the mixed culture to growth media containing methylmercury resulted in the degradation of methylmercury and the volatilization of Hg(0). Four bacterial isolates were obtained from the mixed culture which, in pure culture, rapidly degraded methylmercury to methane and Hg(0). The presence of methane in head space gases was confirmed by flameionization gas chromatography, and the presence of Hg(0) in head space gases was confirmed by mass spectrometry.
在对湖泊沉积物进行无机汞（Hg(2+)）长期孵化的头 50 天中，观察到低浓度的甲基汞逐渐积累。在继续孵化的过程中，系统中甲基汞的含量迅速减少，同时伴随着挥发性无机汞（Hg(0)）的产生。将混合培养物转移到含有甲基汞的生长培养基中，导致甲基汞的降解和 Hg(0)的挥发。从混合培养物中获得了四个细菌分离株，它们在纯培养中可迅速将甲基汞降解为甲烷和 Hg(0)。通过火焰离子化气相色谱法确认了顶空气体中甲烷的存在，通过质谱法确认了顶空气体中 Hg(0)的存在。
