Dual-wavelength spectrophotometric determination of traces of mercury(II) with solubilized dithizone: An approach to simplified analytical procedures for environmental pollutants

A simple spectrophotometric procedure is described for the determination of traces of mercury, with solubilized copper(II) dithizonate. Sample water containing 0.05–0.25 μg of mercury(II) is mixed with an aqueous solution of copper dithizonate containing Triton X-100 at pH 1 (H₂SO₄ ). After 5 min, dual-wavelength photometry is used to measure the difference in absorbances at 507 and 493 nm, which is proportional to the mercury concentration. The advantages are that no reagent blank is necessary and the equipment is simple. Few cations interfere; silver(I) and iron(III) can be masked by chloride and fluoride, respectively.