Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

, Volume 383, Issue 3, pp 448–453 | Cite as

Investigation of the species-specific degradation behaviour of methylmercury and ethylmercury under microwave irradiation

Special Issue Paper
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Abstract

The degradation behaviour of methylmercury (MeHg) under microwave irradiation is investigated, as is the (different) degradation behaviour of ethylmercury (EtHg) under similar irradiation. A simple and highly sensitive SPME-GC-pyrolysis-AFS system was used to analyse the aqueous MeHg and EtHg standard solutions after derivatization with sodium tetraphenylborate (NaBPh4). Samples were irradiated in a microwave digester at microwave powers ranging from 20 to 160 W for durations of 2 to 10 min. The different tolerances towards microwave treatment of the two organomercury species were evident. Practically no degradation was experienced for MeHg for up to 8 minutes of irradiation at 120 W or for up to 4 minutes at 160 W. Significant analyte loss was observed for EtHg after 2 minutes at 40 W of microwave power.

Keywords

Methylmercury Ethylmercury Microwave Degradation Phenylation 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sigma–Aldrich Hungary Ltd., and OTKA 37215 for the financial support of the work.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  • László Abrankó
    • 1
  • Zsuzsa Jókai
    • 1
  • Péter Fodor
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Applied ChemistryCorvinus University of BudapestBudapestHungary

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