Total and inorganic mercury determination in fish tissue by flow injection cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A simple and reliable method for Hg determination in fish samples has been developed. Lyophilised fish tissue samples were extracted in a 25% (w/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution; the extracts were then analysed by FI-CVAFS. This method can be used to determine total and inorganic Hg, using the same FI manifold. For total Hg determination, a 0.1% (w/v) KMnO₄ solution was added to the FI manifold at the sample zone, followed by the addition of a 0.5% (w/v) SnCl₂ solution, whereas inorganic Hg was determined by adding a 0.1% (w/v) L-cysteine solution followed by a 1.0% (w/v) SnCl₂ solution to the FI system. The organic fraction was determined as the difference between total and inorganic Hg. Sample preparation, reagent consumption and parameters that can influence the FI-CVAFS performance were also evaluated. The limit of detection for this method is 3.7 ng g^?1 for total Hg and 4.3 ng g^?1 for inorganic Hg. The relative standard deviation for a 1.0 µg L^?1 CH₃Hg standard solution (n = 20) was 1.1%, and 1.3% for a 1.0 µg L^–1 Hg²⁺ standard solution (n = 20). Accuracy was assessed by the analysis of Certified Reference Material (dogfish: DORM-2, NRCC). Recoveries of 99.1% for total Hg and 93.9% inorganic Hg were obtained. Mercury losses were not observed when sample solutions were re-analysed after a seven day period of storage at 4°C.     

Determination of mercury in environmental and biological samples by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A continuously operating monitoring method for total mercury at sub-ng/ml level in environmental and biological samples by cold vapour atomic-absorption spectrometry with NaBH₄ as a reductant was developed. The mercury vapour generator and absorption cell closed-end by quartz were used in this study. The detection limit (S/N = 3) and relative standard deviation of 12 determinations of 10 ng/ml Hg(II) were 0.11 ng/ml and 1.1%, respectively. The range of standard calibration curve was 0–50 ng/ml Hg, The proposed method was successfully applied to the completely continuous monitoring of total mercury in waste water, sediments and pork liver.     

Determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples. The method utilises an off-line microwave digestion stage followed by analysis using a flow injection system with detection by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

The method has been validated using two certified reference materials (DORM-1 dogfish and MESS-2 estuarine sediment) and the results agreed well with the certified values. A detection limit of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ Hg was obtained and no significant interference was observed. The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury in river sediments and canned tuna fish, and gave results in the range 0.1–3.0 mg kg⁻¹.     

Optimization of microwave digestion for mercury determination in marine biological samples by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

Optimization of acid digestion method for mercury determination in marine biological samples (dolphin liver, fish and mussel tissues) using a closed vessel microwave sample preparation is presented. Five digestion procedures with different acid mixtures were investigated: the best results were obtained when the microwave-assisted digestion was based on sample dissolution with HNO3-H2SO4-K2Cr2O7 mixture. A comparison between microwave digestion and conventional reflux digestion shows there are considerable losses of mercury in the open digestion system. The microwave digestion method has been tested satisfactorily using two certified reference materials. Analytical results show a good agreement with certified values. The microwave digestion proved to be a reliable and rapid method for decomposition of biological samples in mercury determination.     

On-line preconcentration of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in sea-water by sorbent-extraction and total mercury determination by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A comparative study of three mercury chelate forming reagents [diethyldithiocarbamate, pyrrolidin-1-yldithioformate and diphenylthiocarbazone (dithizone)] has been carried out for the preconcentration of ultratrace amounts of inorganic mercury and methylmercury in silica C(18) minicolumns as the solid sorbent. Sample flow injection in-line sorbent extraction was coupled with continuous cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) for detection. Results showed the superiority of the carbamate type reagents over the dithizone for the on-line formation and preconcentration of the corresponding mercury chelates. Using diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) as reagent, aqueous sample volumes of 100 ml can be preconcentrated with 100% efficiency for both inorganic mercury and methylmercury. Quantitative release of the retained DDC chelates was obtained for volumes of eluent (ethanol) of 50 microl. Following the proposed procedure, detection limits of 16 ng/l. of mercury were achieved for sample volumes of 25 ml. The relative standard deviation was +/- 3.4% at 0.5 microg/l. Hg(II) levels. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of low levels of mercury in sea-water.     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of mercury in soil standard reference material following microwave sample pretreatment

Several decomposition procedures and their influence on the determination of mercury by electrothermal (ET) and cold vapour (CV) atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) have been studied. Soil samples were decomposed by microwave digestion in closed and open vessels as well as by digestion under reflux according to German standard. The use of different acids (HNO₃, HCl or aqua regia) was evaluated and compared in respect to their influence on the determination of mercury by ET AAS and CV AAS. The digestion solutions were analyzed by ET AAS with a palladium modifier and by CV AAS using SnCl₂ or NaBH₄, as reducing agents. The detection limits obtained with different procedures were also evaluated. For the soil containing 6.25 g/g of Hg the ET AAS measurements were possible. In the case of lower concentration of mercury the CV AAS determination following the microwave digestion procedure with HCl or aqua regia is recommended. The accuracy of the proposed procedure was confirmed by the determination of total mercury in SRM 2711 Montana Soil.On leave from: Institut für Analytische Chemie, Technische Universitat Wien, Getreidemarkt 9, A-1060 Wien, Austria     

Determination of total mercury in coal fly ash by gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the determination of total mercury in coal fly ash by gold amalgamation cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) was optimized. Most of the experiments were performed on NBS SRM 1633a Coal Fly Ash with a certified value of 160 ± 10 ng Hg g^?1. The main attention was focused on the decomposition of the sample. The efficacy of pressure decompositions in closed silica and sealed Pyrex tubes using various combinations of acids (HNO₃, HCl, HClO₄) was compared with oxidative combustion of the coal fly ash. Notwithstanding the incomplete mineralization of the sample in sealed tubes, the results obtained showed good agreement with the certified value and results obtained by neutron activation analysis (NAA), which suggests that mercury is quantitatively released from the sample into solution. Lower results were obtained using decomposition in closed (but not hermetically sealed) silica tubes owing to losses of mercury by volatilization during decomposition. Interferences from some metal ions (nickel, lead, copper, silver, palladium, zinc and antimony) were also examined. The results showed a serious depression of the mercury signal only when gold, palladium and platinum were present at higher concentrations, which never or very seldom occur in fly ash matrices, and therefore do not represent a limitation of the method.     

Digestion method for the determination of mercury in vegetable matrices by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and rapid wet-digestion procedure is described for the determination of total mercury in botanical samples by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The method is based on the oxidising properties of potassium dichromate in dilute sulphuric acid and was tested on two National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Materials. The mass of the samples taken for analysis was about 0.5 g in all instances, corresponding to an amount of mercury of the order of 0.075-0.040 micrograms depending on the material. The results were compared with those obtained using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists official digestion technique, which involves the use of nitric and sulphuric acids, and a second technique based on the action of nitric and perchloric acids. The proposed method provided better accuracy and showed good precision. Its ability to achieve the decomposition of two organomercurials for full mercury recovery was verified.     

Direct mercury determination in aqueous slurries of environmental and biological samples by cold vapour generation-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Direct cold vapour generation from aqueous slurries of environmental (marine sediment, soil, coal) and biological (human hair, seafood) samples have been developed using a batch mode generation system coupled with electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. The effects of several variables affecting the cold vapour generation efficiency from solid particles (hydrochloric acid and sodium tetrahydroborate concentrations, argon flow rate, acid solution volume and mean particle size) have been evaluated using a Plackett-Burman experimental design. In addition, variables affecting cold vapour trapping and atomisation efficiency on Ir-treated graphite tubes (trapping and atomisation temperatures and trapping time) have been also investigated. Atomisation and trapping temperatures, trapping time and hydrochloric acid concentration were the significant variables. The 2²+star and 2³+star central composite designs have been used to obtain optimum values of the variables selected. The accuracy of methods have been verified by using several certified reference materials (PACS-1, GBW-07410, NIST-1632c, CRM-397 and DORM-2). A characteristic mass of 390 pg were achieved. The detection limits of methods were in the range of 40-600 ng g⁻¹. A particle size less than 50 μm is adequate to obtain total cold vapour generation of Hg content in the aqueous slurry particles.     

Determination of total urinary mercury by on-line sample microwave digestion followed by flow injection cold vapour inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or atomic absorption spectrometry

The total mercury content in urine was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with the so-called cold vapour method after on-line oxidative treatment of the sample in a microwave oven (FI-MW-CV-ICPMS). Use of a KBr/KBrO(3) mixture, microwave digestion, and the final oxidation with KMnO(4), assure the complete recovery of the organic forms of Hg which would be difficult to determine otherwise if using only the CV-ICPMS apparatus. Quantitative recoveries were obtained for phenyl Hg chloride (PMC), dimethyl Hg (DMM), Hg acetate (MA) and methyl Hg chloride (MMC). Use of automatic flow injection microwave systems (FI-MW) for sample treatment reduces environmental contamination and allows detection limits suitable for the determination of reference values. Since no certified reference materials were commercially available in the concentration ranges of interest, the accuracy of the proposed procedure has been assessed by analysing a series of urine samples with two independent techniques, ICP-MS and AAS. When using the FI-MW-CV-ICP-MS technique, the detection limit was assessed at 0.03microg/L Hg, while with FI-MW-CV-AAS it was 0.2microg/L Hg. The precision of the method was less than 2-3% for FI-MW-CV-ICP-MS and about 3-5% for FI-MV-CV-AAS at concentrations below 1microg/L Hg. These results show that ICP-MS can be considered as a "reference technique" for the determination of total urinary Hg at very low concentrations, such as are present in non-exposed subjects.     

Simple oxidative pretreatment for determination of organomercury by cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry

A simple and rapid method has been developed for the direct determination of organomercury in toluene extracts. The oxidative pretreatment, intended for cold vapour-atomic absorption/fluorescence spectrometry, involves the use of bromide/bromate reagent under strong acid conditions. The pretreatment is performed directly in a volumetric flask and avoids the need for back extraction and phase separation. Recoveries for methyl mercury additions to toluene, at the 2 g/1 level, ranged from 100–106%.On leave Xianjiang Environmental Research Institute, Urumqui, Xianjiang Province, Peoples Republic of China     

Critical comparison of two standard digestion procedures for the determination of total mercury in natural water samples by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

Two pretreatment procedures for total mercury determinations in natural water samples were compared. The first, the Swedish Standard method (DP1), involves digestion of water in the presence of concentrated nitric acid at 120°C and under pressure for 30 min. In the West German Standard method (DP2), small volumes of nitric and sulphuric acids, permanganate and peroxodisulphate are added to the sample, and digestion proceeded at 50°C in an ultrasonic bath. Mercury was determined after both digestion procedures using a modified cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometric method, in which mercury generated on addition of a reducing agent is collected and subsequently atomized in a platinum-lined graphite furnace. The efficacy of the two digestion procedures was tested using various standard organic mercury compounds and it was found that only DP2 provided quantitative recoveries. Purification of the reagents required by DP2 was achieved using a mercury-selective ion-exchange resin, Chelite S, resulting in blank levels below 1.5 ng Hg l^?1. Both methods were applied to the determination of total mercury in an unpolluted marsh water sample, giving 2.0 ng Hg l^?1 (DP1) and 2.7 ng Hg l^?1 (DP2). The West German Standard digestion procedure (DP2) is recommended for the determination of total mercury in natural water samples.     

Automated microwave digestion of certifiable color additives for determination of mercury by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

A procedure using an automated microwave flow digestion technique was developed and validated for the digestion of samples of certifiable color additives before mercury determination by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Recovery studies were performed by spiking most of the color additives subject to batch certification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with inorganic mercury (HgNO3) and with organic mercury (CH3HgCl). Successful recoveries of 72-113% Hg added at the 1 microg/g level were obtained. A method detection limit of 0.2 microg Hg/g was estimated from a Hg-spiked FD&C Yellow No. 6 sample. At the specification level of 1 ppm Hg (1 microg Hg/g), the 95% confidence interval was +/- 0.2 ppm (0.2 microg Hg/g).     

王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞

为了寻求一种更加适宜测定土壤中汞含量的测试方法,将检出限低、精密度高的冷原子吸收光谱法与便捷、高效的王水水浴消解土壤处理方式相结合,建立了王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞。通过测定方法的线性相关性、方法检出限、准确度、精密度、加标回收率,并与原子荧光光谱法进行对比实验来评价该方法的有效性。王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法在汞质量浓度0.0～1.0μg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数可以达到0.999 9,方法检出限为0.000 75mg/kg,土壤标准样品测试的相对标准偏差为4.0%～10.7%,实际样品加标回收率分别为93%～104%。采用原子荧光光谱法进行对比测试,原子荧光光谱法的方法检出限为0.002 5 mg/kg,相对标准偏差为4.8%～13.5%,加标回收率为104%～107%。结果表明,对于王水水浴消解土壤的方法不仅适用于原子荧光光谱法测定汞含量,同样可以应用于冷原子吸收光谱法中。所建立的王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法具有更低的检出限,更优的准确度和精密度,有利于提高土壤样品测试的工作效率,值得推广。     

王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞

为了寻求一种更加适宜测定土壤中汞含量的测试方法,将检出限低、精密度高的冷原子吸收光谱法与便捷、高效的王水水浴消解土壤处理方式相结合,建立了王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法测定土壤中汞。通过测定方法的线性相关性、方法检出限、准确度、精密度、加标回收率,并与原子荧光光谱法进行对比实验来评价该方法的有效性。王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法在汞质量浓度0.0~1.0μg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数可以达到0.9999,方法检出限为0.00075 mg/kg,土壤标准样品测试的相对标准偏差为4.0%~10.7%,实际样品加标回收率分别为93%~104%。采用原子荧光光谱法进行对比测试,原子荧光光谱法的方法检出限为0.0025 mg/kg,相对标准偏差为4.8%~13.5%,加标回收率为104%~107%。结果表明,对于王水水浴消解土壤的方法不仅适用于原子荧光光谱法测定汞含量,同样可以应用于冷原子吸收光谱法中。所建立的王水消解-冷原子吸收光谱法具有更低的检出限,更优的准确度和精密度,有利于提高土壤样品测试的工作效率,值得推广。     

Inorganic mercury and methylmercury determination in polluted waters by HPLC coupled to cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectroscopy

A systematic study of Hg²⁺ and CH₃Hg⁺ (MeHg⁺) speciation using hyphenated techniques, was performed for high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to on-line UV irradiation and cold-vapour atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (HPLC-UV-CV-AFS). First, a comparative study of the behaviour of three mobile phase compositions (using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB), L-cysteine and ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC)) is presented. The separation and detection system was optimised by considering factors that modify fluorescence signal and the separation such as, the addition of different percentages of an organic modifier (methanol (MeOH) and acetonitrile (ACN)) to the mobile phase, the type of reducing agent used (SnCl₂ and NaBH₄) and the potential memory effects of the material of which the injection system is made (stainless steel, PEEK). The mobile phase selected for its sensitivity was a mixture 80?:?20 MeOH?:?0.0015?mol?l^–1 APDC and 0.01?mol?l^–1 NH₄CH₃COO (pH 5.5). The detection and quantification limits were close to 1.5 and 5?µg?l^?1 for both species (as Hg), respectively. Recoveries obtained using fortified water samples of distinct origin (soft mineral, tap, river, seawater, and wastewater), ranged from 90 to 115% for concentrations about 2 and 20 times over quantification limits. Good repeatability was obtained (about 5%) independently of the concentrations, with reproducibility values about 20% at low concentrations and 5–10% at higher concentrations. Our proposed method proved to be straightforward for use by environmental laboratories for routine Hg²⁺ and MeHg⁺ determinations in polluted water samples.     

Determination of mercury in seawater by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Summary To avoid systematic errors in the sampling and determination of mercury in seawater an integrated sampling-analyzing system has been developed. A 500 ml PTFE-bottle attached to a sampling gear is used as sampling vessel for the cold vapour atomic absorption Spectrophotometry, using nitrogen aeration, SnCl₂ reduction, and preenrichment/ purification by amalgamation on finely dispersed gold. The detection limit of this procedure was found to be 0.5 ng·l^–1 and the coefficient of variation 4% for 1.5 ng·l^–1.

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Bestimmung von Quecksilber im Meerwasser durch Kaltdampf-Atomabsorptionsspektralphotometrie

Zusammenfassung Zur Vermeidung von systematischen Fehlern bei der Ultraspurenanalyse von Quecksilber im Meerwasser wurde ein integriertes Probenahme-Analysensystem entwickelt. Eine 500 ml PTFE-Flasche dient in Verbindung mit einem Greifarm als Probenahmegefäß für Oberflächenwasser und wird anschließend als Reaktionsgefäß in die Analysenapparatur gesetzt. Die Bestimmung erfolgt mit der Kaltdampf-Atomabsorptionsspektralphotometrie nach Reduktion des Quecksilbers durch SnCl₂ und Anreicherung sowie Reinigung mittels Amalgamierung an feinverteiltem Gold. Die Nachweisgrenze dieses Verfahrens beträgt 0,5 ng·l^–1, der Variationskoeffizient 4% bei 1,5 ng·l^–1.

     

Sensitive determination of gaseous mercury in air by cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry after amalgamation

A method was developed for the determination of mercury in air, using preconcentration by amalgamation on gold absorbers followed by measurement by atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The system has a detection limit of ca. 2.0 pg and the precision is in the range 5–10% (relative standard deviation). The accuracy was confirmed by comparison with cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The method was applied to the determination of gaseous mercury in both indoor and outdoor air. As a result of the sensitivity small sample volumes can be analysed and only short sampling times are required. The method is thus suitable for continuous monitoring of mercury and for the fast and reliable determination of gaseous mercury in the atmosphere, even at background levels.     

On-line microwave sample pretreatment for the determination of mercury in blood by flow injection cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for on-line treatment of whole blood in a microwave oven and determination of mercury by flow injection cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry was developed. After dilution of the whole blood and addition of oxidant, all further treatment and measurement were performed automatically, on-line. Recoveries of five mercury compounds were complete. Good agreement between measured and recommended values of mercury in whole blood reference materials was obtained. Measured mercury values also agreed with results from other accepted methods. Sample throughput was about 45 measurements/hr. Detection limit (3s) in diluted sample was 0.1 μg/l corresponding to 1μg/l Hg in whole blood. The RSD value at 0.5 μg/l Hg in the diluted sample was 6–7% (11 measurements and 0.5 ml sample volume). Mercury concentrations between 1 and 150 μg/l in whole blood can be measured using this method. For three replicate measurements, 0.5 ml of whole blood is required.