A copper(I) iodide paper for the detection and determination of the concentration of mercury vapour in the workplace atmosphere

Abstract

The development and preparation of a test paper for mercury in air is described. A measured volume of air is drawn through a silica gel-loaded filter-paper coated with a mixture of copper(I) iodide and sodium carboxy-methylcellulose, and in the presence of mercury a pink stain is produced. The paper has been validated in the laboratory and a factory for the reliable determination of mercury vapour in air at concentrations up to 100 µg m^–3.