Determination of inorganic and alkylmercury in natural waters using chelating sorbent and cold vapour AAS

A new method of separation, preconcentration and successive determination f rom the same sample of inorganic mercury and alkylmercury in river waters h as been presented. Separation and preconcentration of mercury is carried ou t on the chelating sorbent with thionalide and followed by the cold vapour atomic absorption determination of both forms of mercury after their succes sive reduction by tin(Ir). Optimum conditions of separation and preconcentr ation as pH, flow rate on the column, volume of samples and desorbing agent s were established. The stability of various mercury forms as Hg2+, CH3Hgand C2H5Hg+ in natural samples and during sample processing was also invest igated. Accuracy and precision of the method was estimated by using the synthetic w ater standards and samples of natural water spiked with known amount of var ious forms of mercury.