Apparent and real reducing ability of polypropylene in cold-vapour atomic-absorption spectrophotometric determinations of mercury

Abstract

Experiments undertaken with polypropylene reaction flasks in connection with the Perkin-Elmer MHS-1 Mercury/Hydride System show that polypropylene very quickly adsorbs tin(II) chloride, which is not then removed by usual routine rinsing. This can cause mercury to be lost rapidly from solutions stored in uncleaned flasks as well as giving signals for mercury in coldvapour atomic-absorption methods even if reductant is not added. This apparent ability of polypropylene to reduce mercury(II) is rapid and ceases with careful cleaning of the apparatus. This apart, the polypropylene reaction flasks have a real, relatively slow, but considerable ability to reduce mercury(II), which was especially conspicuous if solutions without preservatives were agitated in them.