On‐Line speciation of mercury and methylmercury in aqueous samples by chromatography‐atomic fluorescence spectrometry after hydride generation

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Abstract
A method is described for the determination of picogram amounts of inorganic mercury(II) and methylmercury(II) compounds in seawater. These compounds are first volatilized from the water samples by reduction to mercury (Hg0) and formation of methylmercury hydride (CH3HgH) by means of a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) solution and cryogenically focused onto a chromatographic stationary phase. Both mercury compounds are eluted according their boiling points and are passed through a pyrolysis tube, at 900°C, before entering the atomic flurescence detector. Absolute detection limits (3σ) are 1 and 2 pg for, respectively, inorganic mercury and methylmercury. For seawater analysis, detection limits of 0.1–1.0 ng I−1 can be achieved.

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