Sensitive atomic-absorption spectrophotometric determination of mercury using a heated reaction flask for mercury vapour generation

Abstract

The sensitivity of the determination of mercury by cold vapour atomic-absorption spectrophotometry is increased by about 125% by raising the reaction vessel temperature from 20 to 75 °C. A further increase in sensitivity of about 20% was achieved by using a glass optical cell that is broad at each extreme and tapers inwards towards the centre. This cell is easy to fit to commercial instruments.