Determination of part-per-milliard concentrations of mercury by atomic- fluorescence flame spectrometry

A method is reported for the determination of mercury in the range 0.002-1 microg/ml . Mercury is extracted by dithizone from aqueous solutions into chloroform or isobutyl methyl ketone, the organic solution is aspirated into a hydrogen-oxygen name, and the intensity of atomic-fluorescence of mercury is measured. The method should be particularly useful for the determination of mercury in urine and for the determination of organic-bound mercury without prior decomposition.