This article describes the application of Agilent 710-ES in the determination of mercury in certified reference sludge materials. The method uses ICP-OES technology, which is simple to operate and has high accuracy. It also provides detailed operating steps and precautions for this method.
The document details the determination of mercury levels in solid wastes, specifically sewage sludges, which often contain high concentrations due to environmental contamination. It highlights the utility of vapor generation techniques coupled with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) for measuring mercury at low concentrations typically found in environmental analysis.
The note presents a specific procedure using an Agilent 710-ES equipped with a megapixel CCD detector and an Agilent VGA-77P Vapor Generation Accessory. It outlines the operating conditions for both the ICP instrument and the VGA, including gas flows, power settings, and pump rates. The document also covers sample preparation methods involving acid digestion of NBS 2781 (Domestic Sludge) reference material and reports detection limits and analysis results.
A pump rate of 40 to 45 rpm is usually sufficient to ensure effective pumping and prevent liquid from rising in the gas-liquid separator.
Argon was used as the VGA carrier gas, while nitrogen use is not recommended on ICP.
The plasma gas flow was set to 13.5 L/min and the auxiliary gas flow was set to 1.5 L/min.