The modification of pretreatment of environmental samples for the determination of total mercury by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS)

The transfer of mercury from environmental samples into solution, which was then measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry method was inv estigated. The influence of acids used for the pretreatment of samples (HNO 3, H2SO4, HClO4, HCl) on the analytical signal of mercury were carried out. The interferences in the process of instrumental determination of mercury, caused by the presence of reagents added to the analyte solution were elim inated using the stabilising effect of hydrochloric acid. Standard solution s of organometallic mercury compounds were used to investigate the isolatio n of the traces of analyte by extraction with hydrochloric and nitric acids . The possibility of using the method of mercury extraction in the analysis of real soil samples - certified material NIST SRM 2709 San Joaquin soil, with the utilization of concentrated and diluted hydrochloric acid was inve stigated.