Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometer RA-915+for direct determination of mercury in air and complex matrix samples

Zeeman mercury spectrometer RA-915+ is suitable for the direct determination (without the preconcentration step in the absorption trap) of mercury concentrations in various samples, such as air, water, soil, food, coal, oil and so on with background levels detection limits. The mercury concentrations were determined by the same RA-915+ spectrometer using different attachments to convert bound mercury to its atomic form, To determine mercury concentrations in samples with complex matrix without pre-treatment (whole blood, hair, crude oil, vegetation, food), a two-chamber pyrolytic atomiser was developed. Its design allows to separate the processes of evaporation and dissociation of mercury compounds as well as to simplify the matrix components in the gaseous phase in real time. Results of analyses of samples with simple and complex matrices are shown in the paper. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.