I have noted ICP-MS and Cold Vapour techniques are being recommended in determining trace or ultra trace amounts of Hg in water or aqua regia solutions. How would you compare these two techniques with dedicated Mecury Analyzers?
No direct experience but managers of several Australian labs favor dedicated analysers
I once used a UV Hg monitor to detect breakthrough of mercury in gas scrubbers, but you want to detect ng per litre in water.
ICP-MS seems to be the preferred technology.
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Article Reference measurements for total mercury and methyl mercury ...
That's not an easy question to answer as it depends on may factors. ICPMS can be a good technique particular if you are also using it to determine other elements in the samples as essentially it doesn't cost must extra. If you are only determining Hg though, ICPMS would be an expensive option. Additionally many who use ICPMS for Hg experience "memory" issues with Hg, whereby the Hg sticks to the introduction system, which can result it carryover. However, with careful method development and validation this can be overcome with appropriate wash time and/or adding a stabilizer such as gold at a few ppm.
If you are just looking for Hg then a dedicated Hg analyser would be more appropriate., working on either CVAAS or CVAFS principles. There are lots on the market which would be suitable for drinking water and aqua-regia digests. Some come with autosamplers and so would be a good option if you are doing lots of samples each day. One thing to consider is that you may have some issues analysing aqua-regia digests direct with analysers that utilise the chemical reduction principle (reduction of Hg2+ to Hg0) as this acid is strongly oxidising and can stop the reductant chemical working as it should. This can be overcome by diluting the sample (although this could compromise LOD), or by adding a pre-reductant, but these are extra steps that would need to be considered for analyser selection.
You should consider if it would be expected for you to conform to an international standard for the analysis as this may dictate what type of analyser you would need to use.
Check this out
https://www.teledyneleemanlabs.com/products/mercury-analyzers
M7600 is really very robust and easy to use instrument if you do not require ultra trace levels. Many of commercial laboratories use it for routine analysis.
M8000 is for routine analysis with capability of going into ultra trace areas as low as 0.05 ng/L. Be mindful that at his level you require ultra pure reagents and laboratory glass and also ultra pure environment.
Personally, I have tried mercury on ICP-MS but due to enormous memory effect I would never do that again.
Mercury analysers are really simple and easy to use instruments so I would definitely go for dedicated mercury analyzer.
Slightly late to answer this question, but: A lot of the contributors to Plasmachem-L (https://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A0=PLASMACHEM-L) will suggest direct Hg analysers over ICP-MS, as the technology and chemistry is more reliable because of mercury's tendency to "plate-out" on the plastic tubing and general volatility during sample preparation etc.
The information at https://www.labcompare.com/10-Featured-Articles/133134-Mercury-Analyzers-in-the-Laboratory/ seems quite useful.
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