Abstract
A technique for estimating nanogram quantities of mercury in sediment samples is described. Samples are heated at 870°C in an oxygen atmosphere, and the released mercury is collected on a gold-coated glass bead trap. The trap is then heated to 500°C in a helium stream; mercury is swept through a d.c. discharge cell and measured by emission spectrometry. Recoveries of mercury added to sediment samples were quantitative. Comparison of five separate samples by the proposed method and by a conventional cold-vapor atomic absorption technique showed similar results. The proposed method gives linear calibration plots up to 1700 ng Hg; the detection limit is 10 ng Hg, so that the sensitivity is 0.005 ppm for a 2.0-g sample.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
