Substoichiometric determination of mercury using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol

A substoichiometric radiochemical method for the determination of mercury has been developed using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) as a chelating agent. The chelate was extracted at pH 9.5 ( Na2CO3NaHCO3 buffer) into chloroform. 15-65 micrograms of mercury was determined with an accuracy +/- 0.9%. Effects of many diverse metal ions have been studied and procedures were developed for the suppression of interference due to these ions.