A novel on-line organic mercury digestion method combined with atomic fluorescence spectrometry for automatic mercury speciation

Abstract

A novel on-line digestion method was developed based on organic mercury (Org-Hg) oxidation at ambient temperature using potassium permanganate in the presence of sulphide. The digestion of Org-Hg was instantaneous and quantitative. Consequently, a simple mercury speciation method was developed to differentiate inorganic mercury (In-Hg) and Org-Hg in water samples with a sequential injection analytical system in conjunction with atomic fluorescence spectrometric detection by using Hg2+ as the sole standard for calibration. In-Hg was determined after acidification and decomposition of the organic matter in the sample matrix with KMnO4, while total mercury (T-Hg) was determined after online Org..