Instrumental modification intended to save time, and volumes of sample and reagent solutions, in the atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of mercury

Abstract

Use of small membrane pumps, instead of peristaltic pumps, to introduce sample and reagent solutions into the spectrometer has several advantages in atomic fluorescence spectrometric determination of mercury. This simple modification results in a substantial saving in the time required for the measurements and so 90% of reagent solution volumes and 95% of sample solution volumes are saved, with a consequent decrease in the volume of waste generated. The sampling frequency is almost tripled, with no deterioration in sensitivity, which is similar to that obtained by use of peristaltic pumps. The relative standard deviation for ten consecutive measurements of a 1 microg L-1 mercury solution was approximately 2%.

Atomic spectrometry update. Advances in atomic emission, absorption, and fluorescence spectrometry, and related techniques

“…They showed that the procedure could overcome the classic interference of phosphate on Ca, and that only 2 mL and 0.75 mL of sample and standard solutions, respectively, were needed. Perez-Sirvent et al 15 devised a system to save both time and reagent in the determination of Hg by AFS, based on the use of small membrane pumps, instead of peristaltic pumps. They tripled the sampling frequency and deceased sample and reagent consumption by 90-95%.…”

“…Rizea et al 190 showed that for the CV-AAS determination of Hg in fish digests, a higher sensitivity was obtained at 184.9 nm than at 253.7 nm. Perez-Sirvent et al 15 substituted small membrane pumps for the previously used peristaltic pumps and were able to decrease reagent and sample consumption by 90 and 95%, respectively in the CV-AFS determination of Hg. They also improved the throughput by a factor of 3.…”