Determination of Mercury and Methylmercury in Aqueous Samples by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry after Pre-Concentration with Bis (2-Mercaptobenzothlazole) Immobilized on Microcrystalline Naphthalene

A method based on cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry was used for the determinationof trace mercury (hg^+ 2 ) and methylmercury (mehg^+) in aqueous samples. the mercury in thesample was concentrated in a column packed with bis (2-mercaptobenzothiazole), immobilizedon microcrystalline naphthalene. the method was optimized for different parameters affectingthe pre-concentration process, in order to obtain better sensitivity. the recovery test showedthat the method is quite reliable for use in the determination of trace amounts of mercury inaqueous samples. the method was applied to the speciation of mercury in river water and inthe effluents of wastewater treatment plants