The analysis of inorganic and methyl mercury by derivatisation methods; Opportunities and difficulties

We discuss three methods of analysis of methyl and inorganic mercury in sed iments and water and present new results for one of these. The methods used are (1) solvent extraction and derivatization to CH3HgBr (with separate an alysis of inorganic mercury) with determination by electron capture gas chr omatography, (2) aqueous phase derivatization using NaB(C2H5)(4) with detec tion by atomic absorption spectroscopy and (3) derivatization with NaBH4 wi th detection of CH3Hg and inorganic mercury by atomic absorption and mass s pectroscopes. We present new results on the analytical stability of CH3HgH and discuss errors arising in the methods, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.