A Review of Quartz Crystal Microbalance-Based Mercury Detection: Principles, Performance, and On-Site Applications

Mercury (Hg) is a globally recognized toxic element, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury entered into force in 2017 to address its associated risks. Under the United Nations Environment Programme, international efforts to reduce Hg emissions and monitor its environmental presence are ongoing. In support of these initiatives, we developed a simple and rapid mercury detection device based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-Hg sensor), which utilizes the direct amalgamation reaction between Hg and a gold (Au) electrode. The experimental results demonstrated a proportional relationship between Hg concentration and the resulting oscillation frequency shift. Increased flow rates and prolonged measurement durations enhanced detection sensitivity. The system achieved a detection limit of approximately 1 µg/m³, comparable to that of commercially available analyzers. Furthermore, a measurement configuration integrating the reduction-vaporization method with the QCM-Hg sensor enabled the detection of mercury in aqueous samples. Based on the experimental results and the gas-phase detection sensitivity achieved to date, concentrations as low as approximately 0.05 µg/L appear to be detectable. These findings highlight the potential of the QCM-Hg system for on-site mercury monitoring. This review aims to provide a comprehensive yet concise overview of QCM-Hg sensor development and its potential as a next-generation tool for environmental and occupational mercury monitoring.