Determination of 1 ng/l. Levels of mercury in water by electrothermal atomization atomic-absorption spectrometry after solvent extraction

Optimization of the furnace parameters for electrothermal atomization of mercury leads to a characteristic mass of 20 pg in aqueous solution and 30 pg in chloroform extracts (with Zeeman correction). With a single-step solvent extraction from 100 ml of sample, performed in the sampling vessel, and direct injection of 400 μl of the extract into the furnace, a characteristic concentration of ∼0.8 ng/l. is reached.