A combined electrochemical-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (EC-ICP-MS) method for the determination of trace mercury in water samples is presented. It takes advantage of the electrochemical preconcentration of mercury onto a gold spiral electrode followed by ICP-MS analysis after the electrochemical reoxidation of deposited mercury in pure supporting electrolyte. The advantages of the EC-ICP-MS approach with respect to conventional ICP-MS, are the increased sensitivity and the elimination of the effect of interfering substances eventually present in the sample.EC-ICP-MS is applied to the determination of nanomolar and subnanomolar concentrations of mercury(II) ions in real samples such as process waters (from a chlor-alkali plant) and lagoon waters (from Venice channels). Analytical performances obtained by EC-ICP-MS are discussed and compared with those obtained by anodic stripping voltammetry at gold and at Tosflex-coated glassy carbon electrodes.

The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase.

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