Mercury detection limits

Li and coworkers synthesized the novel IL l-butyl-3-trimethylsilylimid-azolium hexafluorophosphate and demonstrated its utility for liquid/ liquid extraction of inorganic mercury. Using o-carboxyphenyl diazoamino p-azobenzene as a chelator to form a stable neutral complex with the metal ion, the authors demonstrated selective extraction into the hydrophobic IL phase [19]. When sodium sulfide was added to the IL phase, the mercury ion was back-extracted into the aqueous layer, providing an avenue for recycling the IL. The authors report extraction and back-extraction efficiencies of 99.9 and 100.1%, respectively, for a 5.0 pg/L aqueous mercury standard. The mercury detection limit was 0.01 ng/mL in water and the method was successfully applied to detecting trace mercury in natural water samples. 

Cold vapor mercury detection limits were determined with a FIAS(ji )-100 or FIAS-400 flow-injection system with amalgamation accessory. The detection limit without an amalgamation accessory is 0.2/ig/L with a hollow cathode lamp, 0.05 /ig/L with a System 2 electrodeless discharge lamp. (The Fig detection limit with the dedicated FIMS(ji )-100 or FIMS-400 mercury analyzers is <0.010/ig/L without an amalgamation accessory and <0.001 /ig/L with an amalgamation accessory.) Flydride detection limits shown were determined using an MFlS-10 Mercury/Flydride system. 

Method Able to distinguish methyl mercury Detection limit (ppm) Reference... 

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is more suited to samples where the number of metals is small, because it is essentially a single-element technique. The conventional air—acetylene flame is used for most metals however, elements that form refractory compounds, eg, Al, Si, V, etc, require the hotter nitrous oxide—acetylene flame. The use of a graphite furnace provides detection limits much lower than either of the flames. A cold-vapor-generation technique combined with atomic absorption is considered the most suitable method for mercury analysis (34). 

As atomic fluorescence spectrometer a mercury analyzer Mercur , (Analytik-Jena, Germany) was used. In the amalgamation mode an increase of sensitivity by a factor of approximately 7-8 is obtained compared with direct introduction, resulting in a detection limit of 0,09 ng/1. This detection limit has been improved further by pre-concentration of larger volumes of samples and optimization of instrumental parameters. Detection limit 0,02 ng/1 was achieved, RSD = 1-6 %. 

While barbiturate metabolites are more intensely colored by the mercury(I) nitrate reagent (q.v.) the unaltered barbiturates react more sensitively to the mercury(II) diphenylcarbazone reagent the detection limits lie between 0.05 pg (Luminal ) and 10 pg (Prominal ) per chromatogram zone [6]. 

Funk et al. have used a low-pressure mercury lamp without filter to liberate inorganic tin ions from thin-layer chromatographically separated organotin compounds these were then reacted with 3-hydroxyflavone to yield blue fluorescent chromatogram zones on a yellow fluorescent background [22]. Quantitative analysis was also possible here (XoK = 405 nm, Xji = 436 nm, monochromatic filter). After treatment of the chromatogram with Triton X-100 (fluorescence amplification by a factor of 5) the detection limits for various organotin compoimds were between 200 and 500 pg (calculated as tin). 

Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) has been used extensively for the determination of heavy metals in samples of biological origin, such as lead in blood. ASV has the lowest detection limit of the commonly used electroanalytical techniques. Analyte concentrations as low as 10 M have been determined. Figure 16 illustrates ASV for the determination of Pb at a mercury electrode. The technique consists of two steps. The potential of the electrode is first held at a negative value for several minutes to concentrate some of the Pb " from the solution into the mercury electrode as Pb. The electrode process is... 

To date, a few methods have been proposed for direct determination of trace iodide in seawater. The first involved the use of neutron activation analysis (NAA) [86], where iodide in seawater was concentrated by strongly basic anion-exchange column, eluted by sodium nitrate, and precipitated as palladium iodide. The second involved the use of automated electrochemical procedures [90] iodide was electrochemically oxidised to iodine and was concentrated on a carbon wool electrode. After removal of interference ions, the iodine was eluted with ascorbic acid and was determined by a polished Ag3SI electrode. The third method involved the use of cathodic stripping square wave voltammetry [92] (See Sect. 2.16.3). Iodine reacts with mercury in a one-electron process, and the sensitivity is increased remarkably by the addition of Triton X. The three methods have detection limits of 0.7 (250 ml seawater), 0.1 (50 ml), and 0.02 pg/l (10 ml), respectively, and could be applied to almost all the samples. However, NAA is not generally employed. The second electrochemical method uses an automated system but is a special apparatus just for determination of iodide. The first and third methods are time-consuming. 

Luther et al. [92] have described a procedure for the direct determination of iodide in seawater. By use of a cathodic stripping square-wave voltammetry, it is possible to determine low and sub-nanomolar levels of iodide in seawater, freshwater, and brackish water. Precision is typically 5% (la). The minimum detection limit is 0.1 - 0.2 nM (12 parts per trillion) at 180 sec deposition time. Data obtained on Atlantic Ocean samples show similar trends to previously reported iodine speciation data. This method is more sensitive than previous methods by 1-2 orders of magnitude. Triton X-100 added to the sample enhances the mercury electrode s sensitivity to iodine. 

Airey et al. [195] have described a method for the removal of sulfide prior to the determination of phosphate in anoxic estuarine waters. Mercury (II) chloride was used to precipitate free sulfide from samples of anoxic water. The sulfite-free supernatant liquid was used to estimate sulfide by measuring the concentration of unreacted mercury (II), as well as to determine phosphate by the spectrophotometric method in which sulfide interferes. The detection limit for phosphate was 1 ig/l. 

A hanging mercury drop electrodeposition technique has been used [297] for a carbon filament flameless atomic absorption spectrometric method for the determination of copper in seawater. In this method, copper is transferred to the mercury drop in a simple three-electrode cell (including a counterelectrode) by electrolysis for 30 min at -0.35 V versus the SCE. After electrolysis, the drop is rinsed and transferred directly to a prepositioned water-cooled carbon-filament atomiser, and the mercury is volatilised by heating the filament to 425 °C. Copper is then atomised and determined by atomic absorption. The detection limit is 0.2 pg copper per litre simulated seawater. 

In contrast, the coupling of electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques, e.g., electrodeposition of a metal followed by detection by atomic absorption spectrometry, has received limited attention. Wire filaments, graphite rods, pyrolytic graphite tubes, and hanging drop mercury electrodes have been tested [383-394] for electrochemical preconcentration of the analyte to be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. However, these ex situ preconcentration methods are often characterised by unavoidable irreproducibility, contaminations arising from handling of the support, and detection limits unsuitable for lead detection at sub-ppb levels. 

In many applications, such as the analysis of mercury in open ocean seawater, where the mercury concentrations can be as small as 10 ng/1 [468,472-476], a preconcentration stage is generally necessary. A preliminary concentration step may separate mercury from interfering substances, and the lowered detection limits attained are most desirable when sample quantity is limited. Concentration of mercury prior to measurement has been commonly achieved either by amalgamation on a noble-metal metal [460,467, 469,472], or by dithizone extraction [462,472,475] or extraction with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate [475]. Preconcentration and separation of mercury has also been accomplished using a cold trap at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. 

Gill and Fitzgerald [481] determined picomolar quantities of mercury in seawater using stannous chloride reduction and two-stage amalgamation with gas-phase detection. The gas flow system used two gold-coated bead columns (the collection and the analytical columns) to transfer mercury into the gas cell of an atomic absorption spectrometer. By careful control and estimation of the blank, a detection limit of 0.21 pM was achieved using 21 of seawater. The accuracy and precision of this method were checked by comparison with aqueous laboratory and National Bureau of Standards (NBS) reference materials spiked into acidified natural water samples at picomolar levels. Further studies showed that at least 88% of mercury in open ocean and coastal seawater consisted of labile species which could be reduced by stannous chloride under acidic conditions. 

Watling [491] has described an analytical technique for the accurate determination of mercury at picogram per litre levels in fresh and seawater. Mercury, released by tin (II) chloride reduction of water samples is amalgamated onto silver wool contained in quartz amalgamation tubes. The wool is then heated and the mercury thus released is flushed by argon into a plasma where it is excited. The emission signal thus produced results in a detection limit of 3 x 10 17 g and an analytical range 1 x 10 14 g-1 x 10"7 g. 

Van den Berg [510] carried out direct determinations of molybdenum in seawater by adsorption voltammetry. The method is based on complex formation of molybdenum (VI) with 8-hydroxyquinoline (oxine) on a hanging mercury drop electrode. The reduction current of adsorbed complexions was measured by differential pulse adsorption voltammetry. The effects of variation of pH and oxine concentration and of the adsorption potential were examined. The method was accurate up to 300 nmol/1. The detection limit was 0.1 nmol/1. 

Donat and Bruland [217] determined low levels of nickel and cobalt in seawater by a voltammetric technique, and the nioxime complexes of the two elements were concentrated on a hanging mercury drop electrode. The current resulting from the reduction of Co (II) and Ni (II) was measured by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry. Detection limits are 6 pM (cobalt) and 0.45 nM (nickel). 

Platinum was determined in seawater by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry in a method described by Van den Berg and Jacinto [531]. The formazone complex is formed with formaldehyde, hydrazine, and sulfuric acid in the seawater sample. The complex is adsorbed for 20 minutes at -0.925 V on the hanging mercury drop electrode. The detection limit is 0.04 pM platinum. 

Van den Berg and Huang [292] determined uranium (VI) in seawater by cathodic stripping voltammetry at pH 6.8 of uranium (Vl)-catechol ions. A hanging mercury drop electrode was used. The detection limit was 0.3 nmol/1 after... 

Liu et al. [955] developed an electrothermal vaporisation istope dilution -ICP-MS method for determining cadmium, mercury, and lead in seawater at 2, 5, and 1 ng/1 detection limits, respectively. 

Cyclohexane-1,2-dione dioxime (nioxime) complexes of cobalt (II) and nickel (II) were concentrated from 10 ml seawater samples onto a hanging mercury drop electrode by controlled adsorption. Cobalt (II) and nickel (II) reduction currents were measured by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry. Detection limits for cobalt and nickel were 6 pM and 0.45 mM, respectively. The results of detailed studies for optimising the analytical parameters, namely nioxime and buffer concentrations, pH, and adsorption potential are discussed. 

Andruzzi et al. [800,801] discussed the use of a long-lasting sessile-drop mercury electrode in the differential pulse ASV subtrace determination of zinc, cadmium, and lead in seawater. A repeatability of about 3% and a detection limit of 10 1() M were achieved for these three metals. 

Fitzgerald [53] used a cold trap to concentrate mercury from large volumes of seawater. Using this technique, he could achieve a detection limit of 0.2 ng Hg, and a coefficient of variation of 15% at the 25 ng 1 1 level. Most oceanic samples contained less than 10 ngl-1, but coastal samples could approach 50 ngl-1. 

Agemian and Chau [55] have described an automated method for the determination of total dissolved mercury in fresh and saline waters by ultraviolet digestion and cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy. A flow-through ultraviolet digester is used to carry out photo-oxidation in the automated cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometric system. This removes the chloride interference. Work was carried out to check the ability of the technique to degrade seven particular organomercury compounds. The precision of the method at levels of 0.07 pg/1, 0.28 pg/1, and 0.55 pg/1 Hg was 6.0%, 3.8%, and 1.00%, respectively. The detection limit of the system is 0.02 pg/1. 

Haapakka and Kankare have studied this phenomenon and used it to determine various analytes that are active at the electrode surface [44-46], Some metal ions have been shown to catalyze ECL at oxide-covered aluminum electrodes during the reduction of hydrogen peroxide in particular. These include mercu-ry(I), mercury(II), copper(II), silver , and thallium , the latter determined to a detection limit of <10 10 M. The emission is enhanced by organic compounds that are themselves fluorescent or that form fluorescent chelates with the aluminum ion. Both salicylic acid and micelle solubilized polyaromatic hydrocarbons have been determined in this way to a limit of detection in the order of 10 8M. 

Hexavalent chromium is also a toxic compound (like lead, cadmium, mercury) and can be easily detected with UV spectrophotometry [20]. This system works for the quality control of electroplating treated wastewater with a detection limit of 5 pg It1. 

Earlier work on the determination of total mercury in river sediments also include that of Iskander et al. [41], Iskander applied flameless atomic absorption to a sulphuric acid nitric acid digest of the sample following reduction with potassium permanganate, potassium persulphate and stannous chloride. A detection limit of one part in 109 is claimed for this somewhat laborious method. 

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