Determination of Mercury Compounds in Water Samples by Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry With anIn Situ Nebulizer/Vapor Generator

Abstract

A preliminary study of a cold vapor generation system as the sample introduction device for liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC–ICP-MS) is described. Samples containing ionic mercury compounds were subjected to chromatographic separation before injection into the cold vapor generator. The species studied include inorganic mercury (Hg ^II ), methylmercury and ethylmercury. The sensitivity, detection limits and repeatability of the LC–ICP-MS system with a cold vapor generator were comparable to or better than those for an LC–ICP-MS system with conventional pneumatic nebulization or other sample introduction techniques. The limits of detection for various mercury species were in the range 0.03–0.11 ng ml ^-1 Hg based on peak height. The concentrations of mercury compounds in open ocean sea-water reference material NASS-4 and a tap water sample collected from National Sun Yat-Sen University were determined.