USE OF FLOW-INJECTION COLD VAPOR GENERATION AND PRECONCENTRATION ON SILICA FUNCTIONALIZED WITH METHYLTHIOSALICYLATE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MERCURY IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES AND SEA-WATER BY INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY
Pc. Rudner et al., USE OF FLOW-INJECTION COLD VAPOR GENERATION AND PRECONCENTRATION ON SILICA FUNCTIONALIZED WITH METHYLTHIOSALICYLATE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF MERCURY IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES AND SEA-WATER BY INDUCTIVELY-COUPLED PLASMA-ATOMIC EMISSION-SPECTROMETRY, Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry (Print), 13(10), 1998, pp. 1167-1171
A novel and expeditious approach to the direct determination of mercur
y in sea-water and biological samples based on a separation-preconcent
ration system coupled on-line to a flow injection (FI) manifold is des
cribed. The method employs on-line preconcentration of mercury on a 3
cm x 3 mm column packed with silica gel functionalized with methylthio
salicylate (TS-gel) and placed in the injection valve of the FI manifo
ld. Synthesis of the resin is simpler and faster than that of other re
sins described previously, where many steps are required. In this syst
em the metal was eluted from the column with thiourea and mixed on-lin
e with NaBH4; mercury vapour was generated directly and separated via
a gas-liquid separator. Various parameters and chemical variables affe
cting the preconcentration of Hg-II, the direct generation of mercury
vapour and the final determination by ICP-AES were evaluated. The cali
bration graph was linear over the range 5-1000 ng ml(-1) Hg-II, with a
relative standard deviation at the 10 ng ml(-1) level of 2.1%. The ac
curacy of the method was evaluated by the analysis of certified refere
nce materials. The results showed good agreement with the certified va
lues.