Simplified apparatus for determination of mercury by atomic absorption and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy
Suddendorf, R.F.; Watts, J.O.; Boyer, K.
Journal - Association of Official Analytical Chemists 64(5): 1105-1110
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-5756 PMID: 7287608 Document Number: 172884
A simplified apparatus has been applied to the determination of mercury by cold vapor generation. The equipment consists of a reaction flask incorporating a side arm in which a rubber septum is mounted. A sample solution is injected from a syringe through the rubber septum into the reaction flask, where it is mixed with a stannous chloride reducing solution. The elemental mercury generated is then swept with a carrier gas to the inductively coupled plasma (ICP), an absorption cell of an atomic absorption spectrometer, or a nondispersive UV monitor for determination. Detection limits were 0.009 and 0.005 mu g with atomic absorption and the UV monitor, respectively, and 0.09 mu g with the ICP. Repeatability of the procedure was 1.4% at 0.66 mu g injected mercury with the ICP and 5.2% at 0.45 mu g injected with atomic absorption. Tuna and halibut samples fortified with from 0.09 to 1.31 mu g mercury/g were analyzed by the AOAC official method and the procedure described here. The average mercury recovery was 103% with the ICP, and 99% with the UV monitor and with atomic absorption. The procedure is free from interference by elements commonly present in biological material.[TVA].