METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF ELEMENTAL GASEOUS MERCURY IN AIR OR IN OTHER GASES

• Main Authors: Didzbalis, Jonas, Kvietkus, Kestutis, Urba, Andriejus, Valiulis, Darius, Sakalys, Jonas
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 14.12.2016
• Subjects: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PHYSICS; TESTING

The present invention relates to the field of material analysis and air pollution research. Proposed method comprises collection of elemental gaseous mercury by passing a sample of air or other gases through a collection zone formed as gold structure (2) inside a quartz tube (1), desorption of the collected elemental gaseous mercury by heating the collection zone up to desorption temperature and transmitting of the desorbed elemental gaseous mercury to a mercury analyzer. Seeking to improve the precision of gaseous elemental mercury detection, the desorbed elemental gaseous mercury together with other possibly desorbed gaseous admixtures in the air or other gases are passed through a zone of oxidation, which is heated up and maintained at temperature in a range from 350°C to 1000°C, preferably in a range from 900°C to 1000°C, and more preferably at 960°C during the desorption oxidation step. Temperature of oxidation zone is maintained in a range from ambient temperature to 500°C during the collection step. The collection zone of the quartz tube (1) during collection step is maintained preferably at 200°C.