| Abstract | Quantitation of mercury in gasoline by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following its photochemical vapor generation is described. Samples were prepared as a mixture of gasoline and propan-2-ol. A high efficiency flow through 19W photochemical vapor generator was used to process prepared samples with in-situ collection of the resultant Hg0 vapor onto reduced palladium in the graphite tube. Response from inorganic and organomercury standards added to the samples did not differ significantly. A limit of detection and characteristic mass of 0.1μgL-¹ and 0.6ng were obtained, respectively. Relative standard deviations of replicate measurements of 3.0ngmL-1 added Hg(II) were typically 7-8%. Recoveries of spikes from samples ranged from 90 to 97%. The concentration of mercury in all tested samples of gasoline was below the limit of quantitation (0.3μgL-¹). The method was rapid, efficient, green, fit-for-purpose, responsive to both inorganic and organic mercury species and should also respond to any Hg0 endogenously present in the sample. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. |
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