Electrochemical procedure for determination of mercury in waste soils samples

The new electrochemical procedure Fur determination of mercury in waste soi l samples consists of two parts. In the first part of the procedure mercury is thermally released from its compounds at a temperature of about 900 deg reesC. Then the mercury vapors are condensed on the probe walls in low temp erature. Subsequently the mercury is dissolved in the mixture of acids. The solution, is UV irradiated which oxidizes the organic matter that is relea sed from the soil simultaneously with the mercury. In the second part of th e procedure mercury is determined at a gold electrode. The electrochemical determination procedure consists of three steps: electrode activation, merc ury reduction on the electrode surface and the measurement with differentia l pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV), For the first two steps of electroche mical determination the flow system is applied. The flow system which makes the determination easier, consists of a pump, wall-jet type cell, two-way valve and Tygon tubing. The method is very cheap, simple and versatile for determination of mercury in waste soils.