Química Nova (Jan 2012)

Organic and total mercury determination in sediments by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry: methodology validation and uncertainty measurements

  • Robson L. Franklin,
  • Jose E. Bevilacqua,
  • Deborah I. T. Favaro

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-40422012000100009
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 35, no. 1
pp. 45 – 50

Abstract

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The purpose of the present study was to validate a method for organic Hg determination in sediment. The procedure for organic Hg was adapted from literature, where the organomercurial compounds were extracted with dichloromethane in acid medium and subsequent destruction of organic compounds by bromine chloride. Total Hg was performed according to 3051A USEPA methodology. Mercury quantification for both methodologies was then performed by CVAAS. Methodology validation was verified by analyzing certified reference materials for total Hg and methylmercury. The uncertainties for both methodologies were calculated. The quantification limit of 3.3 µg kg-1 was found for organic Hg by CVAAS.

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