Chelating 2-mercaptobenzothiazole loaded resin. Application to the separation of inorganic and alkylmercury species for their atomic absorption spectrometry determination in natural waters

A new 2-mercaptobenzothiazole loaded Bio-Beads SM-7 resin has been prepared and its analytical properties were established. The sorbent was applied to the separation and preconcentration of inorganic and alkylmercury from nat ural waters. Optimum conditions of separation as pH, how rate on column, vo lume of samples and desorbing agent were established. The cold vapour atomi c absorption method determination of both forms of mercury after their succ essive reduction by tin(II) was used. The low limit of determination for th is method was established as 10 ng 1(-1) for 1.01 water sample. Accuracy an d precision of the method was estimated by using test water standards and s amples of natural water spiked with known amounts of mercury species. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.