Abstract: The purpose of the present work is to develop a simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate method for the derivatization and subsequently preconcentration of Hg(II) and the determination of its derivative, diphenylmercury, in natural water samples using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. The method is based on the diphenylation using phenyl boronic acid, subsequent extraction of phenylmercury into a single drop of an organic solvent (toluene), followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection GC-FID analysis of the extract. The pH of the feed solution was kept in pH 5 with acetate buffer solution. Thus, the optimized conditions are: organic solvent, toluene; derivatization time, 10 min; extraction time, 15 min; microdrop volume, 1.6 lL; stirring rate, 600 rpm; sample volume, 5 mL. The limit of detection (LOD), calculated on the basis of five replicates was 0.02 lg mL-1. The relative standard deviation of the method (RSD%, n = 5) was 3.0. Linear range was between 0.05 and 5 lg mL-1 and preconcentration factor obtained for phenyl-mercury was 105.

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