DETERMINATION OF INORGANIC HG(II) AND ORGANIC MERCURY-COMPOUNDS BY ION-PAIR HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

The ion-pair chromatographic behavior of inorganic mercury(II) and organomercurials was investigated with tetra-n-alkylammonium bromides as ion-pair reagents and sodium halides in a methanol-water mixture as mobile phases. UV and three-electrode direct current argon plasma specific element detection were employed. The effects of the type and the concentration of sodium halide and ion-pair reagent, and the level of methanol on chromatographic behavior of mercury compounds were evaluated. Both inorganic mercury(II) and benzylmercury species showed much greater UV response than other mercurials, while all analytes showed more consistent mercury-specific responses although there was some bias seen toward a greater response for the smaller organometallics.