Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS) is one of the most widely used techniques for the selective determination of mercury in environmental, biological, clinical and industrial samples. In this research, a new electrochemical cold vapor generation system with lead–tin alloy electrode as cathode material is developed for Hg (II) determination by atomic absorption spectrometry. A laboratory constructed batch cell with a Sn-Pb alloy cathode served as the cold vapor generator. The experimental parameters has been optimized to attain the maximum sensitivity for Hg determination and to minimize the limits of detection and determination. In the optimum conditions, the calibration curve is linear the range of 2-60 ng ml-1 mercury. The limit of detection for mercury determination was 2 ng ml-1 and the RSD was 2.8% (n=8) at the 40 ng ml-1 concentration level. The accuracy and recovery of the method were investigated by analyzing spiked tap water.

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