BETA-CORRECTION SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC DETERMINATION OF MERCURY AND ITS COMPLEX-RATIO WITH MALACHITE GREEN

Mercury has been determined by beta-correction spectrophotometry using both malachite green (MG) and iodide. This method eliminates complete ly the effect of excess MG giving real absorbance of the chelate forme d between Hg(II) and MG. The sensitivity, precision and accuracy are h igher as compared to those obtained by the single wavelength method. W ith beta-correction spectrophotometry the complex formation ratio of M G : Hg(II) can be determined accurately and was found to be 3. Results show that Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration range 0-1.60 mg /L Hg(II) with the detection limit of 0.004 mg/L. The analysis to prac tical samples results that the recovery of mercury is between 90.0 and 105% with the RSDs less than 5.1%. This method has been applied for t he analysis of environmental water.