Determination of trace amounts of organic and inorganic mercury in biological materials by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and organic mercury speciation by chromatography

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00128a024· OSTI ID:7033809

Filippelli, M

A procedure for determination of both organic and inorganic mercury in biological materials by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) is described. Organic mercury is extracted as a chloride derivative by benzene and reextracted by a thiosulfate solution. Inorganic mercury is converted into a methyl chloride derivative by methanolic tetramethyltin prior to extraction. A 20-..mu..L aliquot of the thiosulfate solution is injected into the graphite furnace. The calibration is linear up to 12 ng of Hg/20 ..mu..L injected. The limit of detection of mercury is 0.04 ng of Hg/20 ..mu..L injected. The organic mercury thiosulfate extract was treated with CuCl/sub 2/, reextracted in the benzene layer, and analyzed by gas chromatography (GLC) for speciation.

• Research Organization: Laboratorio Chimico di Igiene e Profilassi, La Spezia, Italy
• OSTI ID: 7033809
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 59:1; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102 -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
400105 -- Separation Procedures
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
EXTRACTION
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SOLVENT PROPERTIES
SPECTROSCOPY
THIOSULFATES
TRACE AMOUNTS