Sensitive method for trace determination of mercury in wines using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

An accurate, simple and precise method for total mercury determination in wines is described. Liquid/liquid extraction of inorganic and organic mercury species directly from untreated wine samples is recommended as a preconcentration procedure prior to determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate was used as complexation agent. The optimal instrumental parameters for ETAAS measurement of mercury species extracted are proposed. The detection limit for total mercury determination is 0.2 mug L-1. The relative standard deviation is 15-22% for mercury in wine in the range of 0.2-5 mug L-1. The proposed procedure has been successfully applied to the determination of mercury in bottled wines in Bulgaria and Macedonia.