DETERMINATION OF METHYLMERCURY IN FISH AND AQUEOUS SAMPLES USING SOLID-PHASE MICROEXTRACTION FOLLOWED BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY ATOMIC FLUORESCENCE SPECTROMETRY

An analytical method is described for methylmercury determination in f ish and aqueous samples using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) follo wed by gas chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (GC-AFS). T he procedure involves aqueous-phase derivatization of methylmercury sp ecies with sodium tetraethylborate in a sample vial and subsequent ext raction with a silica fiber coated with poly(dimethylsiloxane). The me rcury derivatives are desorbed in the splitless injection port of a ga s chromatograph and subsequently analyzed by GC-AFS, The headspace SPM E procedure is used and parameters affecting the extraction, adsorptio n and desorption are evaluated, Results for methylmercury analysis in standard reference material (DORM-2) and fish samples are presented. ( C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.