Determination of Mercury Compounds in Water Samples by Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry With anIn Situ Nebulizer/Vapor Generator

Abstract
A preliminary study of a cold vapor generation system as the sample introduction device for liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC–ICP-MS) is described. Samples containing ionic mercury compounds were subjected to chromatographic separation before injection into the cold vapor generator. The species studied include inorganic mercury (Hg II ), methylmercury and ethylmercury. The sensitivity, detection limits and repeatability of the LC–ICP-MS system with a cold vapor generator were comparable to or better than those for an LC–ICP-MS system with conventional pneumatic nebulization or other sample introduction techniques. The limits of detection for various mercury species were in the range 0.03–0.11 ng ml -1 Hg based on peak height. The concentrations of mercury compounds in open ocean sea-water reference material NASS-4 and a tap water sample collected from National Sun Yat-Sen University were determined.

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