Direct hydride derivatization of methyl- and ethylmercury chlorides in aqueous solution with KBH4

Direct hydride derivatization of methyl- and ethylmercury chlorides in aqueous solution with KBH4

A convenient hydride derivatization procedure of methyl-and ethylmercury chlorides to volatile hydrides was reported. In sealed vials methylmercury and ethylmercury compounds in acidic aqueous solutions were converted into their volatile forms by the reaction with potassium tetrahydroborate(KBH4) and elvolved to the headspace of the vials. The gaseous analytes in the headspace were extracted and concentrated by solid phase microextraction(SPME) and injected into gas chromatography (GC) for separation and identified by mass selective detector(MS).