Mercury Analysis Archive

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) has developed a method for detecting trace amounts of mercury in cosmetic. This method involves the direct analysis of cosmetic samples without the need for sample preparation. This has led to the introduction of ISO 23674, which focuses on direct mercury analysis techniques. In this application report we demonstrate how Milestone DMA-80 evo responds to the requirements of the ISO 23674.

With the cost of reagents and their disposal continually rising, it is important for laboratories to find more cost effective ways to do mercury analysis. With this in mind, Milestone has created a cost comparison to show the benefits of using our DMA-80 evo Direct Mercury Analyzer, which offers more than double the productivity of traditional cold vapor techniques at a fraction of the cost.

Aquagro is a company specialized in exporting fresh swordfish to Europe from the South Pacific. Its primary goal is to deliver a superior service that provides its clients with complete comfort regarding the quality and safety of their seafood products. At Aquagro, 100% of the fish is inspected for mercury levels in order to meet all European consumer-safety regulations. Aquagro is capable of sampling about 6,500 samples every month. Aquagro’s testing lab was experiencing difficulties with handling large number of samples and rush deliveries that needed to be processed every day to ensure quality and compliance with European legal requirements and regulations. After evaluating many instruments, the Milestone DMA-80 evo direct mercury analyzer was the clear choice to meet Aquagro’s significant throughput needs.

Let’s take a more detailed look at the cost of analysis comparison between a dedicated mercury analyzer and one using Direct Mercury Analysis. It’s also worth noting that there are three approved methods using this approach - EPA Method 7473 for solid samples and liquids, ASTM method D-7623-10 for total mercury in crude oil using combustion gold amalgamation and cold vapor atomic absorption method and ASTM 6722-01 for coal combustion products.

At Lincoln University, Mercury determination was a challenging task when working with ICP-based techniques and CVAA. the DMA- 80 poses a unique advantage of a straight-forward operation that has allowed for an easy integration into several teaching courses at Lincoln University.

The determination of trace levels of Hg is a must and frequently measurements are performed by converting Hg to a vapor and measuring its concentration either by atomic absorption or by atomic fluorescence. DMA-80 Direct Mercury Analyser has proved its superb performance in applications for a plethora of samples, such as animal tissues, atmospheric particulate, coal, fish, hair, sediments, soils, vaccines, etc. Even speciation analysis could be performed when associating the DMA-80 with a proper extraction procedure.

Recently published on Spectroscopy, this column describes the work of Professor Luis Fernandez and his team in the Department of Biology at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina, who are leading a project to study the effects of illegal artisanal gold mining using mercury amalgamation extraction on the human and environmental ecosystem of Peru’s Madre de Dios region of the Amazon.

With the DMA-80 evo, you get the right results the first time, every time.