Improvements in the non-flame atomic fluorescence determination of mercury

A new non-flame atomic fluorescence system with a detection limit of 5 parts per trillion (p.p.t.) or 5 pg of mercury(II) has been developed. The relative precision is 5% or better above 50 p.p.t. Hg(II), and the dynamic range in terms of linearity is from 0–100 p.p.b. Hg(II). The system is useful for analysis of residual mercury levels in water at a rate of about thirty samples per h.