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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies
Published on: July 1, 2016
Time-based on-line preconcentration cold vapour generation procedure for ultra-trace mercury determination with
Aristidis N Anthemidis1, George A Zachariadis, Christos E Michos
1Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece anthemid@chem.auth.gr
Abstract:
A time-based sequential dispensing on-line column preconcentration procedure for mercury determination at trace levels by cold vapour generation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (CV-ICP-AES), by means of a unified module of a preconcentration column and a gas-liquid separator (PCGLS) is described. The complex of mercury formed on-line with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) is retained on the surface of the hydrophobic poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) turnings, which are packed into the lower compartment of the PCGLS. Subsequently, mercury vapour is generated directly on the PTFE turnings by reductant SnCl(2) and separated from the liquid mixture via the PCGLS by argon purge gas. The outlet of the PCGLS is connected directly to the torch adapter of the plasma without the normal spray chamber and nebulizer. With 60-s preconcentration time and 12.0 mL min(-1) sample flow rate, the sampling frequency is 30 h(-1). The calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 0.02-5.0 microg L(-1), the detection limit ( c(L)) is 0.01 microg L(-1) and the relative standard deviation ( s(r)) is 3.1% at the 1.0 microg L(-1) level. The proposed method was evaluated by analysis of BCR CRM 278 (Mytilus Edulis) reference material and applied to the determination of total mercury in digested urine, blood and hair samples.
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