SEDL / STP / STP573-EB / STP38995S

Determination of Total Mercury Levels in Natural Waters

Nishi, S
National Chemical Laboratory for Industry, Tokyo,

Horimoto, Y
National Chemical Laboratory for Industry, Tokyo,

Pages: 5    Published: Jan 1975

Download this paper for $25 PDF (76K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

A rapid and simple preconcentration technique for the determination of trace amounts of mercury in natural waters has been studied. A 1-liter water sample is pretreated by conventional methods using permanganate and sulfuric acid. Mercury(II) ion formed is reduced to elemental mercury which is aerated and caught in a gold trap. The trapped mercury is released by heating the gold trap and driven into a photometer. A 0.01 ppb level of mercury in natural water is determined successfully.