Determination of Ultratrace Levels of Mercury in Biological Samples Using a Single, Multi-Matrix Radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis Technique

Abstract

Mercury analysis / Mercury-197 / Gold-198 / Radiochemical separation / Biological matrices SummaryA radiochemical separation was developed for the determination of mercury in biological fluids and tissues. Mercury-197 was effectively separated from a2 Br and other spectral interferences employing an oxidative digestion using concentrated sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate with separation of the mercury tetrahedral chloride complex on Dowex anion-exchange resin. The developed procedure gave quantitative recoveries for mercury in whole blood (99% for methylmercury and 101% for inorganic mercury). Mercury concentrations of NIST SRM 1577b and NIST SRM 2672a; both Elevated and Low level; were also determined and found to be in close agreement with reported values. A procedure to correct for the interference of 198 Au was also reported.