Determination of elemental mercury in an emission source having a high sulfur dioxide concentration by amalgamation with gold and ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac60347a030· OSTI ID:5555468

Baldeck, C M; Kalb, G W; Crist, H L

This paper describes the use of gold as a collection medium for the quantitative separation of elemental mercury from stack gases in the presence of 6-8% SO/sub 2/. A slightly modified Environmental Protection Agency sampling train with the impingers altered to hold 20-30 grams of gold chips was used. The gold amalgam is heated in an induction coil and the liberated mercury is absorbed in 3% kMNO/sub 4/ solution; particulates on the filter are digested in HNO/sub 3/. Both solutions are reduced, aerated, and the absorbance is measured at 253.7 nm by an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Collection of mercury on gold eliminates several interferences such as SO/sub 2/, H/sub 2/S, and organic substances which may be present in stack gases and react with liquid absorbing reagents inhibiting their quantitative retention of mercury. The collection efficiency of the filter and amalgamators was, for most runs, in excess of 95%. The retention of mercury on three gold amalgamators between the sampling rates of 0.3 and 0.7 cubic feet per minute is well above 95% at sampling times of 5, 10, and 15 minutes.

• OSTI ID: 5555468
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 46:11; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105 -- Separation Procedures
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUE GAS
GASEOUS WASTES
GOLD
MEASURING METHODS
MERCURY
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WASTES