Analytical determination of mercury in medicinal and waste water samples

Tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) is proposed as an extractant for mercury salicylate. Optimum extraction conditions are developed and the method is used for determinations of mercury in medicinal and waste water samples. Determination of mercury is a challenging problem from the clinical and toxicological point of view. Very few neutral extractants have been used for extraction of mercury(II), however the existing methods have limitations. Therefore a method is proposed with the following advantages; 1) Extraction is fast both at macro and trace level. 2) The method is free from interferences from associated cations and anions and do not require the use of salting out agents. 3) It provides the separation of mercury(II) from bismuth(III), thallium(III) and lead(II) from binary mixtures. 4) It facilitates the separation and determination of mercury in medicinal and waste water samples. 5) The method has a good precision and reproducibility.