Determination of trace mercury species by high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after cloud point extraction

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 172; no. 2; pp. 1282 - 1287
• Main Authors: Chen, Haiting, Chen, Jianguo, Jin, Xianzhong, Wei, Danyi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 30.12.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical Precipitation; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Cloud point extraction; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; High performance liquid chromatography; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry - methods; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Methylmercury Compounds - analysis; Pollution; Polyethylene Glycols; Speciation; Cloud point extraction; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; Mercury; High performance liquid chromatography; Speciation; ICP mass spectroscopy; Clouds; Pollutant behavior; Non ionic surfactant; HPLC chromatography; Enhancement factor; Heavy metal
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.07.134

A sensitive method for speciation analysis of inorganic mercury (Hg 2+) and methyl mercury (MeHg +) has been developed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after cloud point extraction. The analytes were complexed with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) and preconcentrated by a non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114. Mercury species were effectively separated by HPLC in less than 6 min. The enhancement factors for 25 mL sample solution were 42 and 21, and the limits of detection were 4 and 10 ng L −1 for Hg 2+ and MeHg +, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of trace amount of mercury species in environmental and biological samples.