Determination of trace mercury by solid substrate room temperature phosphorescence quenching method based on lead...

Luminescent particles of lead carboxymethyl cellulose (Pb(CMC)(2)), which contains salicyl fluorones (THBF), Pb(CMC)(2)-THBF, were synthesized by sol-gel method. Pb(CMC)(2)-THBF can emit intense and stable solid substrate room temperature phosphorescence (SS-RTP) on filter paper. EDTA can chelate the Pb(2+) in Pb(CMC)(2)-THBF, causing it decompose into aqueous soluble components PbY(2-), CMC(-) and THBF, and these components can react with Hg(2+) to form (CMC)(2)Hg-THBF, causing decrease of phosphorescence intensity. Based on the facts above, a new method for the determination of trace mercury by SS-RTP quenching method was established. The linear range of this method is 2.0-40.0fgspot(-1) (5.0-100.0pgml(-1)) of Hg(2+), with a detection limit (LD) of 0.26fgspot(-1), and the regression equation of working curve is [Formula: see text] (fgspot(-1), 0.4mul spot(-1)), r = 0.9994. This method has been applied to the determination of trace mercury in water sample with satisfactory results. The mechanism of SS-RTP emission is also discussed.