Title: Determination of trace amounts of mercury (II) by catalytic kinetic method in environmental samples

Authors: Neetu Bansal

Addresses: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji Islands

Abstract: A highly selective and sensitive, spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of Mercury(II) in environmental waters samples, based on indicator reaction of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and 2-methylpyrazine (2-Mepz), catalysed by Hg(II). The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically at pH = 3.50 ± 0.02 and 25.0 ± 0.1°C by measuring the change in absorbance over time at 447 nm (λmax = 447 nm) for 20 min. Mercury can be determined within the range 20.06-200.6 ng mL−1 with relative standard deviation of sr = 3.02 at 20.06 ng/mL Hg(II) level. Interference due to many cations and anions was also studied at 200.6 ng/mL level.

Keywords: spectrophotometry; potassium hexacyanoferrate(II); 2-methylpyrazine; ligand substitution; mercury (II); catalytic kinetics; water pollution; environmental pollution; heavy metals.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2010.032740

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2010 Vol.7 No.4, pp.316 - 327

Published online: 18 Apr 2010 *

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