Rapid determination of mercury in dust emission using Cold Vapour Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (CV ICP OES)

Mercury emissions generated by the human activities were ranged between 60% and 90% from total mercury content determined in some industrialised regions. It is well known that urban dust has adverse health effects, being related to respiratory diseases. In this study, Cold Vapour Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (CV ICP OES) was optimised, validated, and applied in routine analysis for the determination of vapour mercury in dust emission samples collected from different Egyptian cement plants. The estimated detection limit, practical quantification limit, linearity (linear dynamic ranges and method linearity), accuracy (trueness and precision), and measurement uncertainty parameters were studied under optimised (CV ICP OES) conditions. The method showed that the estimated detection limit was found to be equal to 0.12 mu g/L, and the quantification limit was found to be equal to 0.5 mu g/L. The mean recoveries +/- standard deviations at different levels were varied between 88.60 +/- 8.18 and 110.20 +/- 5.93% with a coefficient of variation expressed as relative standard deviation ranged from 0.64 and 7.25%. The method trueness was confirmed by using four different certified references materials purchased from Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS) and all obtained results were within satisfactory ranges and had acceptable recovery and Z-score values. The method precision, in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD), was being below 7.74%. The method uncertainty expressed as expanded uncertainty was found to be <= 16.11%. The results obtained make the method suitable for accurate determination of vapour mercury in dust emission samples at low concentration. The validated method was used for the determination of mercury in fifty-eight dust emissions samples and the results were compared with the maximum limit stated by European standard on the incineration of waste.

Automated summary

Mercury emissions from human activities in industrialized regions can range from 60% to 90% of total mercury content. Urban dust, known to have adverse health effects, has been studied for mercury levels using the CV ICP OES method in Egyptian cement plants, showing satisfactory accuracy and precision.