Determination of mercury in seawater at sub-nanogram per liter levels

Using a refined two-stage gold amalgamation preconcentration technique in conjunction with cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) detection, mercury in various Pacific Northwest coastal waters has been determined. Through the use of extremely clean reagents and special handling techniques, the blank ha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine chemistry 1983-01, Vol.14 (1), p.49-59
Main Authors: Bloom, Nicolas S., Crecelius, Eric A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytical chemistry
Chemistry
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Marine
Marine geology
Mineralogy
Silicates
Spectrometric and optical methods
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Summary:Using a refined two-stage gold amalgamation preconcentration technique in conjunction with cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) detection, mercury in various Pacific Northwest coastal waters has been determined. Through the use of extremely clean reagents and special handling techniques, the blank has been reduced and reproducibility greatly improved for both “easily reducible mercury” and “total mercury”. Samples of unfiltered water, taken at the surface, as well as at 10 m, 100 m, and 175 m have all yielded “easily reducible mercury” at between 0.1 and 0.5 ng l −1, and “total mercury” between 0.2 and 1.0 ng l −1. Variability within replicate field samples is less than 10%, although variations of greater than 100% may be seen over a period of hours in Sequim Bay.
ISSN:0304-4203
1872-7581
DOI:10.1016/0304-4203(83)90069-5