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Determination of total mercury and methylmercury in biological samples by photochemical vapor generation

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Abstract

Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) based on photochemical reduction by exposure to UV radiation is described for the determination of methylmercury and total mercury in biological samples. Two approaches were investigated: (a) tissues were digested in either formic acid or tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), and total mercury was determined following reduction of both species by exposure of the solution to UV irradiation; (b) tissues were solubilized in TMAH, diluted to a final concentration of 0.125% m/v TMAH by addition of 10% v/v acetic acid and CH3Hg+ was selectively quantitated, or the initial digests were diluted to 0.125% m/v TMAH by addition of deionized water, adjusted to pH 0.3 by addition of HCl and CH3Hg+ was selectively quantitated. For each case, the optimum conditions for photochemical vapor generation (photo-CVG) were investigated. The photochemical reduction efficiency was estimated to be ∼95% by comparing the response with traditional SnCl2 chemical reduction. The method was validated by analysis of several biological Certified Reference Materials, DORM-1, DORM-2, DOLT-2 and DOLT-3, using calibration against aqueous solutions of Hg2+; results showed good agreement with the certified values for total and methylmercury in all cases. Limits of detection of 6 ng/g for total mercury using formic acid, 8 ng/g for total mercury and 10 ng/g for methylmercury using TMAH were obtained. The proposed methodology is sensitive, simple and inexpensive, and promotes “green” chemistry. The potential for application to other sample types and analytes is evident.

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Acknowledgement

M. A. Vieira and A.J. Curtius are grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico (CNPq) for a research scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, 88040 900, Brazil

    Mariana A. Vieira, Anderson S. Ribeiro & Adilson J. Curtius

  2. Institute for National Measurement Standards, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R9, Canada

    Ralph E. Sturgeon

Authors
  1. Mariana A. Vieira
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  2. Anderson S. Ribeiro
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  3. Adilson J. Curtius
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  4. Ralph E. Sturgeon
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Correspondence to Ralph E. Sturgeon.

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Vieira, M.A., Ribeiro, A.S., Curtius, A.J. et al. Determination of total mercury and methylmercury in biological samples by photochemical vapor generation. Anal Bioanal Chem 388, 837–847 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-007-1194-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-007-1194-2

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