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Determination of trace amounts of mercury in rock samples

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Summary

A precise and accurate method is described for the measurement of ng quantities of mercury in inorganic samples such as rock, mineral ores and soil. The mercury is distilled from pulverized samples and collected on a silver gauze absorber. The mercury is then rapidly desorbed from the silver element using heat, and it is carried by gas entrainment into the measuring cell of an ultraviolet absorption analyzer. Readout of the mercury content can be made by measurement of peak heights on a strip chart recording, but more elegantly and accurately by the digital printout from a GC integrator. Calibration of the instrumental assembly, by injection of measured quantities of saturated mercury vapor, is simple, rapid and accurate.

Zusammenfassung

Eine genaue Methode zur Bestimmung von Nanogrammengen Quecksilber in anorganischem Material wie Gesteinen, Erzen und Bodenproben wurde beschrieben. Aus den gepulverten Proben wird das Hg abdestilliert und auf einem Silberdrahtnetz gesammelt. Dann wird es rasch durch Erwärmen desorbiert und mit einem Gasstrom in die Meßzelle eines UV-Ab-sorptionsgerätes geleitet. Die Ermittlung des Quecksilbergehaltes kann aus der Peakhöhe eines Schreibers, besser mit dem Digitalzähler eines GC-Integrators erfolgen. Die Eichung des Gerätes durch Einleiten gemessener Mengen von gesättigtem Quecksilberdampf ist einfach rasch und genau.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Division, Technology Development Branch, Air Pollution Control Directorate, Environmental Protection Service, K1A OH3, Ottawa, Canada

    G. L. Corte & L. Dubois

Authors
  1. G. L. Corte
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  2. L. Dubois
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Corte, G.L., Dubois, L. Determination of trace amounts of mercury in rock samples. Mikrochim Acta 63, 69–77 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01271524

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01271524

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