Atomic Absorption Determination of Ultratrace Elements in Geological Materials by Vapor. Hydride‐Forming Techniques. I. Mercury

Abstract

A method is described for the determination of mercury at nanogram levels in geological materials by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy after metal vapor generation. Mercury is converted to a soluble form by H2SO4‐HNO3 attack in a teflon bomb at 180°C for 90 minutes. Metal Hg vapor is obtained by reaction with combined NaBH4‐NaOH using the Perkin‐Elmer MHS ‐ 10 hydride system and determined at room temperature. Mercury can be easily determined in most silicate materials. The sensitivity of the method depends essentially on the purity of the reagents and contaminations during handling rather than on instrumental capabilities. A detection limit of about 10 ng/g Hg for 0.5 g samples has been achieved with the use of normal “suprapure” reagents. Mercury contents on some USGS, CRPG and ANRT reference samples are reported.

Determination of Mercury in One Hundred and Sixteen Geological and Environmental Reference Materials Using a Direct Mercury Analyser

“…A detailed examination of Figure shows that data from Casas and Vaquer () and Sighinolfi et al . (), using flameless AAS, appear to be systematically higher than our measurements, with a higher deviation observed from the 1:1 ratio, as Hg content increases. In contrast, the results of Flanagan et al .…”

“…(), 2: Casas and Vaquer (), 3: Sighinolfi et al . (), 4: Flanagan et al . (), 5: Chan and Bina (), 6: Terashima (), 7: Xin et al .…”

“…Chemical vapour generation has been the sample introduction technique of choice in combination with various atomic spectrometry techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) (Casas and Vaquer , Sighinolfi et al . , Flanagan et al . , Chan and Bina , Terashima ) or atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) (Xin et al .…”

Determination of Mercury in One Hundred and Sixteen Geological and Environmental Reference Materials Using a Direct Mercury Analyser

“…A detailed examination of Figure 3 shows that data from Casas and Vaquer (1979) and Sighinolfi et al (1980), using flameless AAS, appear to be systematically higher than our (Govindaraju (1994), Imai et al (1995), certificate from IRMM, NIST, NRCan, NRCCRM (National Research Center for Certified Reference Materials, China) and USGS). Error bars: see Table 1.…”

Die invloed van verpoeiering op die kwikinhoud van verskeie gesertifiseerde verwysingsmateriale

“…Buiten die element se vlugtigheid (Marie et al 2015) en chalkofiele geaardheid (Kromer, Friederick & Wallner 1981), is baie min bekend rakende die geochemiese gedrag van kwik in stollingsgesteentes. Verskeie analitiese benaderings is die afgelope aantal dekades gebruik vir die bepaling van kwik in aardmateriale, insluitend atoomabsorpsie-spektrometrie (AAS) (Casas & Vaquer 1979;Chan & Bina 1989;Flanagan, Moore & Aruscavage 1982;Sighinolfi, Gorgoni & Santos 1980;Terashima 1994), atoomfluoressensie-spektrometrie (AFS) (Chen et al 2010;Han et al 2007;Li et al 2008;Xin et al 2004), induktief gekoppelde plasma-massaspektrometrie (IGP-MS) (Smichowski et al 2003;Zhang et al 2004) en neutronaktiveringsanalise (Dissanayake & Vincent 1975;Ehmann & Lovering 1967;Morris & Killick 1964). Die afgelope paar jaar het direkte kwikanalise, wat 'n proses is van termiese ontbinding met goudamalgaam voor konsentrasie en die bepaling van kwik deur middel van AAS, uitgestyg as die beste metode om die element kwik in aardmateriale te bepaal (Hall & Pelchat 1997;Lehloenya & Roelofse 2013;Marie et al 2015;Pettruzzelli et al 2012;Roy & Base 2008;Zintwana et al 2012).…”