Determination of methylmercury species by capillary column gas chromatography with axially viewed inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometric detection

Abstract

Methylmercury species were determined by capillary column gas chromatography (GC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry. Methylmercury species were converted into the iodide form and separated on a chemically bonded capillary column. An axially viewed ICP with an échelle monochromator was used as a highly selective and sensitive mercury detector for GC. The detection limit of methylmercury was calculated to be 3 pg as Hg at a signal-to-noise ratio of 2. The linear range was more than three orders of magnitude. The relative standard deviation of ten replicate measurements of 30 pg of methylmercury (as Hg) was 5%.