Advanced oxidation processes for degradation of organomercurials: determination of inorganic and total mercury in urine by FI-CV-AAS

Abstract

A new methodology, based on advanced oxidation processes, for the determination of inorganic and total mercury in human urine is proposed. Ultrasound in conjunction with ozone (sonozone) was used to avoid urine dilution for inorganic mercury determination. A new oxidation method in urine based on KMnO₄–HCl–focused ultrasound is proposed for conversion of methylmercury into inorganic mercury and subsequent determination by flow injection-cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-CV-AAS). The methodology was applied to the determination of inorganic and total mercury in spiked urine from different non-exposed volunteers.