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Experiences with the analytical procedures for the determination of methylmercury in environmental samples
Author(s) -
Lee YingHua,
Munthe John,
Iverfeldt ÅKe
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
applied organometallic chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1099-0739
pISSN - 0268-2605
DOI - 10.1002/aoc.590080717
Subject(s) - chemistry , methylmercury , chromatography , reagent , gas chromatography , matrix (chemical analysis) , analytical procedures , methylene , aqueous solution , distillation , sample preparation , extractive distillation , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , bioaccumulation
Abstract The analytical method using ethylation, gas chromatography–cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (GC–CV AFS), combined with different pretreatment procedures, has been used for the determination of methylmercury (MeHg) in various aqueous and solid environmental samples. Different types of samples with varying matrices and MeHg concentration levels require different pretreatment procedures in order to isolate/separate MeHg from the sample matrix, and to overcome interferences in the ethylation reaction process. Limitations of different pretreatment procedures (solvent extraction into methylene chloride, distillation under nitrogen flow and alkaline digestion) are discussed and recommendations are given. The influence of the quality of the ethylating reagent on the analytical results is also examined.