New methodology for anodic stripping voltammetric determination of methylmercury

A novel procedure for trace methylmercury determinations by anodic stripping voltarnmetry at a gold film electrode is presented. Measurements were performed in a flow system. For selective determination of methylmercury, the Hg2+ ions were masked by complexation with DTPA. Hg-DTPA complex is not reduced at the gold film electrode at the potential of methylmercury reduction to the metallic state. The calibration graph was linear from 5 x 10(-9) to 1 X 10(-7) mol L` for an accumulation time 600 s. A detection limit (based on 3cT criterion) for methylmercury was 2.3 x 10(-9) mol L-1. The validation of the proposed procedure was made by analyses of human hair certified reference material. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.