New methodology for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of methylmercury

A novel procedure for trace methylmercury determinations by anodic stripping voltammetry at a gold film electrode is presented. Measurements were performed in a flow system. For selective determination of methylmercury, the Hg²⁺ ions were masked by complexation with DTPA. Hg-DTPA complex is not reduced at the gold film electrode at the potential of methylmercury reduction to the metallic state. The calibration graph was linear from 5 × 10^?9 to 1 × 10^?7 mol L^?1 for an accumulation time 600 s. A detection limit (based on 3σ criterion) for methylmercury was 2.3 × 10^?9 mol L^?1. The validation of the proposed procedure was made by analyses of human hair certified reference material.