Automated cold vapour flow-injection analysis of mercury at high concentrations

Continuous-flow cold vapour- atomic fluorescence spectrometry is shown to be an extremely sensitive technique for the determination of mercury with detection limits typically below 0.01 μg l(-1). Linear calibration ranges were found to be at least four orders of magnitude (i.e. up to 0.1 mg l(-1)). Samples with concentrations exceeding the linear range are susceptible to self-absorption, and may, in severe cases, cause carry-over problems between samples. The flow-injection approach has been utilized to extend the upper limit of the linear calibration range allowing determinations up to 10 mg l(-1) of mercury. A range of certified reference materials and zinc battery anodes have been successfully analysed with a minimal number of sample dilutions.