On-line pressurized electromagnetic induction heating digestion: a promising sample preparation technique for trace mercury analysis

Abstract

A novel, automated on-line pressurized sample digestion system based on electromagnetic induction heating technique was developed to perform solid sample decomposition in acid medium. The efficiency of acid digestion was increased with 0.36 MPa pressure built up in-line by a 0.5 mm id × 25 m length flow restrictor and up to approximately 135 °C reaction temperature. The system's performance was evaluated for on-line digestion of edible seaweeds and subsequent determination of mercury by cold vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS).