Abstract

Abstract A one color dithizone method for the determination of mercury in urine has been developed. It depends on a cold digestion of the urine with concentrated sulfuric acid and 6 per cent potassium permanganate solution, separation of the mercury with dithizone as mercury dithizonate, extraction of the excess dithizone with 1:1 ammonium hydroxide solution, employing a single extraction vessel for both separation of mercury and elimination of excess dithizone, and estimation of the concentration of mercury dithizonate spectrophotometrically at 490 mμ. The use of cold digestion, elimination of a distillation step, and the employment of a single extraction vessel make this variation a simple method. Normally analysis is performed on 25 or 50 ml. of urine. With these volumes of sample, the method is sufficiently sensitive to enable one to determine 0.02 μg of mercury per milliliter. For moderate concentrations of mercury in urine, 5 ml. aliquots can be used and for high concentrations as little as a 1 ml. test specimen will be adequate.

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