Determination of mercury in smelter flue dusts by acid digestion methods

Abstract

In order to develop a mercury digestion method suitable for flue dust from non-ferrous and secondary lead smelters, seven acid digestions, two in a closed system and five in an open system, were studied. Closed systems were less convenient to use and had no real advantage over open systems. We conclude that the use of aqua regia in open systems is the most effective digestion method. A 96% recovery for spiked mercury(II) sulphide and mercury(II) oxide and a 98% recovery for mercury(II) chloride were obtained.