Traceable determination of atmospheric mercury (Hg) represents a major analytical problem due to low environmental concentrations. Although Hg pre-concentration on activated carbon (AC) traps is a simple method for sample collection, Hg determination is difficult due to a complex matrix that cannot be easily digested using wet chemistry. Two approaches for Hg loading on iodinated AC, the purging of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) and the spiking a solution of standard reference material (SRM), were used to test whether spiking SRM solution on AC can be used for the traceable determination of atmospheric mercury collected as Hg⁰. Mercury on AC was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry after sample combustion. The detector’s response for both loading methods was identical in a wide concentration range, indicating that the spiking of SRM on AC can, indeed, be used for the calibration of analytical systems used for the determination of atmospheric mercury. This was confirmed by the determination of Hg in a real atmospheric sample collected on an iodinated AC trap and using an SRM spiking calibration. Different ACs were compared regarding their ability to quantitatively capture Hg while having the lowest breakthrough. Use of a specific impregnating solution probably converted Hg on AC to Millon’s iodide, as estimated from the fractionation thermogram.

中文翻译：

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使用碘化活性炭阱可追溯测定大气中的汞

由于环境浓度低，可追踪的大气汞（Hg）测定代表了一个主要的分析问题。尽管在活性炭（AC）捕集阱上进行汞预富集是一种简单的样品收集方法，但由于基质复杂，使用湿法化学法不易消化，因此很难确定汞。使用两种方法在碘化的AC上加载汞：元素汞的净化（Hg ⁰）和加标标准物质的溶液（SRM），用于测试加标的SRM溶液在AC上是否可用于大气的可追溯测定。汞收集为汞⁰。样品燃烧后，使用原子吸收光谱法测定AC上的汞。在宽浓度范围内，两种加载方法的检测器响应都是相同的，这表明SRM在AC上的尖峰确实可以用于校准用于测定大气汞的分析系统。通过测定在加碘的交流捕集阱上收集的实际大气样品中的Hg并使用SRM尖峰校准，可以证实这一点。比较了不同AC的定量捕获汞的能力，同时具有最低的突破。根据分馏热分析图估计，使用特定的浸渍溶液可能会将AC上的Hg转化为Millon的碘化物。