Issue 45, 2020

Optimization and in-house validation of the TDA-AAS method for mercury control in water and wastewater treatment plant sludges

Abstract

The thermal decomposition, amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrometry (TDA-AAS) method was validated for mercury (Hg) determination in sludge samples. A linear range was obtained from 30 to 200 ng. The TDA-AAS method provides a limit of quantification (LOQ) well below the legal maximum admitted concentration of Hg in sludge samples, which makes it suitable to measure its concentrations at the imposed legal limits, and for monitoring studies of Hg trace levels in sludge samples. Repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility of the method were good with relative standard deviations lower than 6%. Expanded uncertainty, estimated using a top-down approach with the data obtained from accuracy and precision studies, was 18% for a coverage factor k = 2. Mercury concentration in sludge samples from water treatment plants was below the LOQ (0.33 mg Hg per kg dw) and in wastewater treatment plants was well below the legal limit for their reuse in agriculture (16 mg Hg per kg dw).

Graphical abstract: Optimization and in-house validation of the TDA-AAS method for mercury control in water and wastewater treatment plant sludges

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Sep 2020
Accepted
13 Oct 2020
First published
15 Oct 2020

Anal. Methods, 2020,12, 5503-5513

Optimization and in-house validation of the TDA-AAS method for mercury control in water and wastewater treatment plant sludges

S. Fletcher, A. Miranda, J. Paiva, M. J. Benoliel and C. M. M. Almeida, Anal. Methods, 2020, 12, 5503 DOI: 10.1039/D0AY01839B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements