| Abstract: | ABSTRACT A new method combining flow injection methodology with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) detection is proposed for inorganic mercury analysis. A modified simplex method is used in order to maximise the observed analytical signals (crystal frequency decrease). Six parameters were optimised: the concentration of the acidic carrier solution, the lengths of the sample loop and mixing coil, and the flow rates of the sample carrier, the reductant stream (SnCl2), and the carrier of the mercury vapour (N2). An increase of 18% in the signal of the centroid of the calibration line was achieved, as well as an increase in the sensitivity from 290 Hz μg? to 313 Hz μg?. Following the proposed procedure, detection limits of 47 μg L? of inorganic mercury were found for sample volumes of 0.5 mL. |
