6533b828fe1ef96bd12881d1
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Determination of Concentration Profiles of Methyl Mercury Compounds in Surface Waters of Polar and other Remote Oceans by GC-AFD
Richard PongratzKlaus G. Heumannsubject
Detection limitChemistryHealth Toxicology and MutagenesisPublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthSoil Sciencechemistry.chemical_elementPollutionFluorescence spectroscopyAnalytical ChemistryMercury (element)ArcticEnvironmental chemistryEnvironmental ChemistryPolarSeawaterGas chromatographyWater pollutionWaste Management and Disposalgeographic locationsWater Science and Technologydescription
Abstract The concentration of monomethyl mercury (MeHg+) and dimethyl mercury (Me2Hg) was determined in surface sea-water samples of the Antarctic and Arctic Ocean as well as of other remote areas (South Atlantic and South Pacific) during expeditions of the German research vessel “Polarstern”. A purge and trap/gas chromatographic system, equipped with an atomic fluorescence detector (AFD), was used. For the analysis of MeHg+ conversion into the volatile methylethyl mercury by reaction with tetraethyloborate prior to the purging process was carried out. The detection limit for both methylated mercury compounds was 5 pg Hg/L, which allowed their determination in most ocean water samples even in those of the Antarctic and Arctic Ocean. A north-south concentration profile in the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance from 51°N to 58°S, was also examined, which resulted in the most extended set of data in the environment for these important heavy metal species. In anthropogenically influenced areas of the North A...
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-06-01 | International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry |