Along with development of mechanical analysis, various methods have being applied for determination of total mercury. The method generally used however is colorimetry by dithizone extraction. Reproduction and accuracy were poor owing to low sensitivity, and this method requires great quantities of samples and reagents. As for dithizone extraction, interferences from other metals and the instability of color have resulted in measurement errors.The purpose of the present paper is to establish a simplified method of total mercury determination with high sensitivity and good reproduction.Determination was performed in the following proceduers, 1) Treat solid samples by combustion method, and use digestion at room temperature or reduction method when the samples are liquid.2) Collect mercury in 0.2% KMnO4-1N⋅H2SO4 solution using midget impinger.3) Transfer this solution to separating funnel with 1ml of 40% NH2OH⋅HCl and extract by 0.002% dithizone chloroform.4) Take a part of dithizone chloroform layer to combustion boat, and vaporize mercury in quartz tube at 700°C.5) Determine generated mercury vapor by ultraviolet atomic absorption using spectrophotometer.6) Recovery rate was 99.3%, detectable range was 0.0003μg to 0.2μg and a linear relation was observed in this range.
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Yoshio Taguchi (1971) studied this question.