Determination of Mercury and Methylmercury in Aqueous Samples by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after Pre-Concentration with Bis (2-Mercaptobenzothlazole) Immobilized on Microcrystalline Naphthalene

A method based on cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the determination of trace mercury (Hg^+ 2 ) and methylmercury (MeHg^+) in aqueous samples. The mercury in the sample was concentrated in a column packed with bis (2-mercaptobenzothiazole), immobilized on microcrystalline naphthalene. The method was optimized for different parameters affecting the pre-concentration process, in order to obtain better sensitivity. The recovery test showed that the method is quite reliable for use in the determination of trace amounts of mercury in aqueous samples. The method was applied to the speciation of mercury in river water and in the effluents of wastewater treatment plants