Ambient elemental, reactive gaseous, and particle-bound mercury concentrations in New Jersey, U.S.: measurements and associations with wind direction

Two and a half years of data of ambient concentrations of elemental mercury (Hg(0)), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM), and particle-bound mercury (Hg(p)) were collected at measurement sites at Elizabeth, New Jersey and New Brunswick, New Jersey with Tekran sampling units. The data were processed, summarized, and analyzed from a variety of perspectives. Data quality control and quality assurance procedures are described. Wind direction and wind speed data for each of the sites were also collected. Significant temporal variations in concentrations of all three species were observed. Some significant directional variations were also seen. The sporadic nature of many of the temporal variations is consistent with and could reflect highly variable emissions patterns from anthropogenic mercury sources. Overall mean concentrations of all species were determined. These were, for Hg(0), Hg(p), and RGM respectively; 2.25 +/- 0.04 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m(3)), 8.21 +/- 0.39 picograms per cubic meter (pg/m(3)), and 8.93 +/- 0.31 pg/m(3) (arithmetic means and 95% confidence intervals) at Elizabeth, and 2.15 +/- 0.02 ng/m(3), 10.73 +/- 0.45 pg/m(3), and 6.04 +/- 0.30 pg/m(3) at New Brunswick. Mean concentrations were determined for 16 different sectors representing wind directions. The impact of one known large source is suggested by these data. Reasons for some directional variations are not apparent and suggest a need for further investigation.     

北京市大气气态汞变化特征

采用Tekran 2537X大气汞分析仪在线测量北京市城区大气中气态元素汞(GEM,简称大气汞) 浓度,研究大气汞浓度随不同气象条件的变化特征。通过分析2016年10月—2017年9月大气汞监测数据发现,该监测点全年大气汞浓度为0.48～16.25 ng/m³,均值为(3.41±1.79)ng/m³。春季、夏季、秋季和冬季大气汞浓度均值依次为2.93 、2.95、4.27、3.37 ng/m³,其中,秋季大气汞浓度明显高于其他季节 。秋季大气汞浓度显著偏高可能由不利的大气扩散条件导致。大气汞夜间浓度显著高于白天浓度。同时,将大气汞与SO₂、CO及PM_2.5进行相关性分析,发现大气汞浓度变化趋势与SO₂、CO和PM_2.5呈显著正相关。结合风向和风速进行污染来源分析,得到该点位大气汞在西南和东北方向上受人为排放源影响较大。污染源类型分析表明,冬季大气汞与CO同源性强,主要来自本地供暖用煤。     

An analysis of total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations across the UK from a rural sampling network

Total gaseous mercury was collected at ten sites, which comprise part of the UK rural heavy metals monitoring network, between 2005 and 2008. Using the gold amalgam technique to capture total gaseous mercury, samples were analysed using a Tekran 2537A mercury vapour analyser. The data showed no upward or downward trend in atmospheric mercury concentrations over the period, with 4 year average concentrations between 1.3 and 1.9 ng m(-3), which are in line with other studies' observed northern hemispheric background concentrations of between 1.5 and 1.7 ng m(-3). Using data from nine of the sites, we were able to show seasonality within the data and through kriging we were able to interpolate the TGM concentrations over the UK, revealing a south-east to north-west declining concentration gradient. Using continuous speciated mercury measurements from one of the network sites, we show through wind sector analysis and air-mass back trajectories that this spatial trend is likely to be due to air masses moving over the UK from continental Europe on easterly winds. The levels of TGM recorded in the south-east of the UK also more closely match observed background TGM levels on the continent, which could indicate that the TGM concentrations from the north of the UK are a better reflection of the true North Atlantic atmospheric mercury background level.     

A simple extraction procedure for determination of total mercury in crude oil

The determination of mercury in crude oil and petroleum products is particularly difficult due to the volatile nature of both mercury and the matrix, which may lead to significant loss of the analyte. A simple extraction method for total mercury has been developed to determine total mercury in crude oil using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The homogenized crude oil sample was diluted to 5, 10, and 20 % (w/w) in toluene. The diluted crude oil samples were spiked with 10 and 40 μg/kg (w/w). The samples were extracted using an oxidant/acid solution, BrCl/HCl. The mercury was extracted into the aqueous phase; the ionic mercury was then reduced to volatile elemental mercury (Hg⁰) by stannous chloride (SnCl₂). The mercury vapor was detected by Merlin cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry at a 253.7-nm wavelength. The average recoveries for mercury in spiked diluted crude oil (10 and 40 μg/kg, w/w) were between 96 and 103 %, respectively, in 5 and 10 % spiked diluted crude oil. Whereas, low recoveries (<50 %) were recorded in 20 % diluted spiked crude oil. The method detection limit was calculated as t _{(0.01)(n ? 1)}?×?SD where t is the student's value for 99 % confidence level and standard deviation estimate with n???1 degrees of freedom. The method detection limit was found to be 0.38 μg/kg based on 5 g of diluted crude oil sample. The method is sensitive enough to determine low levels of mercury in crude oil.     

Determination of three alkylphenol isomers in various water samples using a new HPLC method based on a duet stationary phase

The level of three alkylphenols (APs) 4-nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol was monitored in various water samples using a new developed and validated HPLC method. The HPLC method employed a column with a mixed-mode stationary phase (C18/SCX) using a mobile phase of water to methanol?=?15:85 (v/v) delivered at a flow rate of 1 mL/min at room temperature. Both diode array, DAD and fluorescence, FLD detectors were employed. The method is linear when APs concentration ranged from 0.025 to 0.5 μg/mL with a DAD detection at 279 nm and between 0.0008 and 0.1 μg/mL when the detection was made by FLD (excitation at 220 nm, emission at 315 nm). The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for alkylphenols were found to be 5 and 15 ng/mL, respectively (detection by DAD). The method was employed with good results for the determination of APs in the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in various water samples.     

高效液相色谱-原子荧光联用测定天然水中烷基汞

应用在线紫外光照射-高效液相色谱分离-冷原子蒸发/氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法(HPLC-UV-CV/HG-AFS)测定天然水中烷基汞,实验比较两种前处理方法-巯基棉富集和液液萃取,优化分析条件,建立一种简便、选择性好、高灵敏度分析天然水中烷基汞的方法.取1L水样时,甲基汞和乙基汞的检出限(3S/N)分别为0.3和0.6...     

双道原子荧光同时测定海水中痕量砷和汞

建立了双道原子荧光同时测定海水中痕量砷和汞的方法。在试验条件下,砷和汞测定的相对标准偏差≤4．0％．加标回收率在92．0％～104％之间。方法操作简便,灵敏快速,适用于海水及其他水体中砷和汞的测定。     

Total mercury determination in sand boxes from Montreal

Direct mercury analysis was successfully applied to determine trace levels of total mercury in samples from sand boxes in Montréal (Québec, Canada). Twenty sand boxes were sampled from across the city and divided into two size fractions, a fine fraction (<100 microm) and a whole fraction. The concentrations of mercury ranged from 1.6 to 35 microg Hg kg(-1) dry soil for the fine fraction and from 0.7 to 6 microg Hg kg(-1) dry soil for the whole fraction. The mercury concentrations correlated with the soil organic carbon content (R2= 0.67) in the sand. The ratio of the concentration of mercury in the fine over the whole fraction varied from 2.2 to 18. Using published soil ingestion rates for children, the calculated daily intake values varied from 0 to 0.5 ng Hg kg(-1) bw d(-1) with an estimated oral ingestion of 200 mg of sand and from 0.2 to 4.7 ng Hg kg(-1) bw d(-1) with an ingestion of 1750 mg of sand. None of the sand boxes contain sufficient amounts of mercury so as to exceed the currently accepted daily intake threshold of 0.105 microg Hg kg(-1) bw d(-1) established by Health Canada.     

Biogeochemistry of mercury and methylmercury in sediment cores from Sundarban mangrove wetland, India—a UNESCO World Heritage Site

This study was performed to elucidate the distribution, concentration trend and possible sources of total mercury (Hg(T)) and methylmercury (MeHg) in sediment cores (<63 μm particle size; n?=?75) of Sundarban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, India. Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) in a Leco AMA 254 instrument and MeHg by gas chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (GC-AFS). A wide range of variation in Hg(T) (0.032-0.196 μg g(-1) dry wt.) as well as MeHg (0.04-0.13 ng g(-1) dry wt.) concentrations revealed a slight local contamination. The prevalent low Hg(T) levels in sediments could be explained by sediment transport by the tidal Hugli (Ganges) River that would dilute the Hg(T) values via sediment mixing processes. A broader variation of MeHg proportions (%) were also observed in samples suggesting that other environmental variables such as organic carbon and microbial activity may play a major role in the methylation process. An overall elevated concentration of Hg(T) in surface layers (0-4 cm) of the core is due to remobilization of mercury from deeper sediments. Based on the index of geoaccumulation (I (geo)) and low effects-range (ER-L) values, it is considered that the sediment is less polluted by Hg(T) and there is less ecotoxicological risk. The paper provides the first information of MeHg in sediments from this wetland environment and the authors strongly recommend further examination of Hg(T) fluxes for the development of a detailed coastal MeHg model. This could provide more refine estimates of a total flux into the water column.     

Mercury speciation in the Persian Gulf sediments

The concentrations of total mercury (Hg) and methyl mercury (MMHg) were determined in 78 marine sediments in the Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf along nine transects perpendicular to the coastline. Total Hg ranged from 10 to 56 ng g( - 1)d.w. and MMHg from 0.1 to 0.4 ng g( - 1) d.w. The fraction of methyl mercury accounted from 0.3% to 1.1% of the total mercury amount. The organic carbon (OC) content ranged from 0.4% to 1.8%. The present study indicates that the levels of Hg in the sediments of the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf were all in the concentration range of unpolluted areas regarding Hg (<100 ng g( - 1)). The concentrations of total Hg, methyl mercury and organic carbon were generally higher in the deeper stations. Total Hg and MMHg were significantly correlated, but no significant correlations could be found between the Hg and OC levels.     

Mercury fractionation in contaminated soils from the Idrija mercury mine region

Mercury (Hg) fractionation was investigated in contaminated soil in the Idrija Hg-mine region, Slovenia. The main aim of this study was to test and apply sequential extraction and quantification of different Hg phases in order to estimate the mobility and potential bioavailability of Hg in contaminated soils. Separation of Hg phases was performed by means of a selective sequential extraction procedure complemented by volatilization of elemental mercury (Hg0). The influence of temperature, moisture and storage on Hg0 volatilization was also investigated. The total Hg concentrations varied between 8.4 and 415 mg kg(-1) and were up to 40-fold higher than the maximum permissible set by Slovenian legislation. Fractionation measurements indicated cinnabar as the predominant Hg fraction, followed by Hg0. Accumulation of cinnabar predominantly occurred in coarse grained flood plain sediments, where on average it constituted more than 80% of total Hg. In contrast non-cinnabar fractions were found to be enriched in areas where fine grained material was deposited, reaching up to 60% of total Hg. The strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.71-0.99) among non-cinnabar fractions suggested that these fractions predominantly control the mobility and potential bioavailability of Hg. Sample pretreatment before fractionation influenced the partition of Hg between different fractions, and therefore fractionation in fresh, nontreated samples is suggested. In addition, the specificity of the extraction steps needs further attention, as it was shown that some extraction steps, such as the organo-chelating Hg fraction, do not provide meaningful results. This further suggests that protocols for mercury fractionation need further harmonization in order to improve the comparability of the results and their use in risk assessment. Volatile mercury fluxes averaged between 0.04 and 6.5 ng g(-1) h(-1). Good agreement (R2 = 0.81-0.95) was found between the non-cinnabar fractions and evaporation of Hg0. Both the temperature and sample moisture had significant effects on mercury volatilization. The results in this study were obtained at 70 degrees C, which may be somewhat high, in particular for bacterial activity which may also play an important role in Hg volatilization. Therefore it is strongly suggested that further optimisation of the protocol to assess Hg volatilization from soil is required.     

Speciation and mass-balance of mercury from pulverized coal fired power plants burning western Canadian subbituminous coals

This report summarizes the results of a study carried out on six pulverized coal-fired power plants in western Canada burning subbituminous coal for the mass-balance and speciation of mercury. The main objectives of this study were to: determine the total gaseous mercury (TGM) emitted from stacks of power plants using the Ontario Hydro method; identify the speciation of emitted mercury such as metallic (Hg(0)) and gaseous elemental (GEM) mercury; and perform mass-balance calculations of mercury for milled-coal, bottom ash, electrostatic precipitators (ESP) fly ash and stack-emitted mercury based on three tests. Sampling of mercury was carried out using the Ontario Hydro method and mercury was determined using the USEPA method 7473 by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAAS). The sample collection efficiencies confirmed that both oxidized and the elemental mercury had been successfully sampled at all power plants. The total gaseous mercury emitted (TGM) is 6.95-15.66 g h(-1) and is mostly in gaseous elemental mercury (GEM, Hg(0)) form. The gaseous elemental mercury is emitted at a rate of 6.59-12.62 g h(-1). Reactive gaseous mercury (RGM, Hg(2+)) is emitted at a rate of 0.34-3.68 g h(-1). The rate of emission of particulate mercury (Hg(p)) is low and is in the range 0.005-0.076 g h(-1). The range of mass-balances for each power plant is more similar to the variability in measured mercury emissions, than to the coal and ash analyses or process data. The mass-balance calculations for the six power plants, performed on results of the three tests at each power plant, are between 86% and 123%, which is acceptable and within the range 70-130%. The variation in mass-balance of mercury for the six power plants is mostly related to the variability of coal feed rate.     

热分解齐化原子吸收光度法测定废水中的总汞

建立用热分解齐化原子吸收光度法测定废水中总汞的方法。将样品加热至650℃,使所有汞转化成蒸气,利用催化管将蒸气中的二价汞转化成零价汞,再利用金管捕集零价汞,加热金管释放零价汞并使其进入分析单元,在253.7 nm处以冷原子光谱法测定汞含量。方法检出限(t S)为0.045μg/L,测定下限为0.180μg/L。相对标准偏差RSD为2.3%~4.6%,加标回收率P为86.2%~94.8%。用热分解齐化原子吸收光度法直接测定废水中总汞,操作简单,污染小,毒性低,可替代《水质总汞的测定冷原子吸收分光光度法》(HJ 597-2011)。     

Application of a compact all solid-state laser system to the in situ detection of atmospheric OH,HO2, NO and IO by laser-induced fluorescence

A tuneable, high pulse-repetition-frequency, solid state Nd:YAG pumped titanium sapphire laser capable of generating radiation for the detection of OH, HO2, NO and IO radicals in the atmosphere by laser induced fluorescence (LIF) has been developed. The integration of the laser system operating at 308 nm into a field measurement apparatus for the simultaneous detection of hydroxyl and hydroperoxy radicals is described, with detection limits of 3.1 x 10(5) molecule cm(-3) (0.012 pptv in the boundary layer) and 2.6 x 10(6) molecule cm(-3) (0.09 pptv) achieved for OH and HO2 respectively (30 s signal integration, 30 s background integration, signal-to-noise ratio = 1). The system has been field tested and offers several advantages over copper vapour laser pumped dye laser systems for the detection of atmospheric OH and HO2 radicals by LIF, with benefits of greater tuning range and ease of use coupled with reduced power consumption, instrument footprint and warm-up time. NO has been detected in the atmosphere at approximately 1 ppbv by single photon LIF using the Alpha 2Sigma+ <-- Chi 2Pi1/2 (0,0) transition at 226 nm, with absolute concentrations in good agreement with simultaneous measurements made using a chemiluminescence analyser. With some improvements in performance, particularly with regard to laser power, the theoretical detection limit for NO is projected to be approximately 2 x 10(6) molecule cm(-3) (0.08 pptv). Whilst operating at 445 nm, the laser system has been used to readily detect the IO radical in the laboratory, and although it is difficult to project the sensitivity in the field, an estimate of the detection limit is < 1 x 10(5) molecule cm(-3) (< 0.004 pptv), well below previously measured atmospheric concentrations of IO.     

水浴消解-原子荧光法测定土壤中的砷汞

建立了王水水浴消解-原子荧光法测定土壤中砷汞的方法,确定还原剂为硼氢化钾,测砷和汞时硼氢化钾的最优质量分数分别为2%和0.05%,载流为5%盐酸。该法砷和汞分别在质量浓度0.0~40.0μg/L和0.00~4.00μg/L范围内线性良好,相关系数均0.999 5,砷和汞的检出限分别为0.009和0.001 mg/kg,相对标准偏差分别为3.90%和2.67%,加标回收率分别为94.1%~107.6%和92.0%~104.0%。采用本法对国家标准土壤样品和东海县部分农田土壤样品进行测定分析,结果良好,表明该法操作简单、灵敏度高、实用性好,适用于土壤中砷和汞的测定。     

原子荧光法测定水中砷含量的不确定度评定

以氢化物-原子荧光法测定水中砷含量为例,应用不确定度理论,从测试过程和计算方法的角度分析了测量不确定度的各种影响因素:标准物质、溶液稀释情况、工作曲线的非线性以及原子荧光光度计的测量性能等,对各测量不确定度分量进行计算和评定。结果表明:原子荧光法测定水中砷含量的测量不确定度的主要影响因素是工作曲线的非线性和原子荧光光度计的测量性能,其次是标准储备液的逐级稀释,当水样稀释倍数非常低时,因水样稀释引入的不确定度可忽略不计。砷含量的扩展不确定度为1.2μg/L,置信水平为95%。     

Application of neural-based modeling in an assessment of pollution with mercury in the middle part of the Warta River

The level of pollution with various mercury species (organomercury, water- and acid-soluble mercury, mercury bound to humic matter and to sulphides) of the floodplain soils and sediments from middle part of the Warta River has been assessed using self-organizing maps (SOM). Chemometric evaluation allowed identification of moderately (median 173-187 ng g(-1), range 54-375 ng g(-1) in soil and 130 ng g(-1), range 47-310 ng g(-1) in sediment) and heavily polluted samples (662 ng g(-1), range 426-884 ng g(-1)). Heavily polluted were located mainly below and in the area of the Poznań city. Statistical comparison of mercury species distribution in floodplain soils of the Warta River shows different patterns for moderately and heavily polluted samples. In heavily polluted soils the contribution of mobile mercury (sum of organomercury species, water- and acid soluble species) is lower (4.2%) than in moderately polluted soils (6.1%). Higher contribution of mobile mercury was observed in sediments of the Warta River (12%). In case of moderately polluted samples, statistical differences in the contribution of mercury species are relatively low and thus the environmental risk from mercury deposited in aquatic system of the Warta River is relatively low. However, higher water levels and heavy floods may incite remobilisation of some organomercuries (2.2-2.9 ng g(-1) in soil and 10 ng g(-1) in sediment) and acid-soluble species of mercury (2.6-2.9 ng g(-1) in soil and 0.5 ng g(-1) in sediment).     

金膜吸附-冷原子吸收光谱法测定空气中的汞

采用新型金膜吸附-冷原子吸收光谱法测定空气中的汞，在0μg/L～100μg/L范围内线性良好，相关系数为0．9991。方法检出限为1．6 ng/m3，RSD为0．5％～2．7％，测定两种不同浓度的汞标准样品，相对误差为6．1％和3．2％。与两种现行国标方法（巯基棉富集和高锰酸钾溶液吸附法）比较，该方法所需试剂种类少，操作简便、吸附效率好，加标回收率高。     

荧光分光光度法测定废水中的微量硫化物

建立了一种基于荧光素汞在碱性条件下与S^2-作用生成荧光性的物质，从而使荧光素汞的荧光强度下降，根据荧光强度的下降值来测定水样中S^2-含量的方法，测定范围为0.007-0.8mg/L，线性相关系数r为0.9987。大部分共存物质不干扰测定，加入甲醛溶液可消除CN^-的干扰，加入酒石酸可消除Fe^3 的干扰，测定结果令人满意。     

株洲夏季大气中气态总汞浓度特征

为研究株洲市夏季优良天气下大气中气态总汞(TGM)的浓度特征,于2013年8月利用大气汞分析仪(2537X,加拿大)进行了20 d的连续在线观测。结果显示,实验期间株洲市大气TGM的平均浓度为(4.20±3.37)ng/m3,中值浓度为3.40 ng/m3,高于背景地区和沿海城市,略低于国内其他重点城市。晴天、阴雨天TGM浓度分别为3.59、7.96 ng/m3。晴天TGM浓度具有一定日变化规律,最高值出现在早上7:00~9:00,之后逐渐降低,17:00出现最低值;TGM白天和夜间浓度分别为3.57、3.62 ng/m3,昼夜变化不大。晴天TGM与一次污染物SO2、CO、NO2具有显著的正相关性,与O3呈显著负相关性。株洲市夏季主导风向为东南风,该方向没有明显污染源,西北方向风向频率较低,但TGM浓度明显升高,其主要来源可能是位于西北方向的清水塘工业区。