Application of factorial design for mercury determination by trapping and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

A trapping technique was developed for the determination of mercury traces in blood serum by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The mercury was converted to metallic vapour in a reaction cell by tin chlo ride solution, swept by nitrogen into a gold-plated graphite tube and subse quently atomized. The influence of four experimental factors on the sensiti vity of mercury determination was examined using two level factorial design s. It was found that the solution volume is the most significant parameter. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.