Using the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance as stripping detector. Application to trace mercury analysis

The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) was used as a stripping detector for mercury(II) in 0.1 M perchloric acid with a plating time of 15 min. Mercury concentrations down to 1 ppb could be measured. The calibration curve stripping frequency change vs. mercury(II) concentration, showed nonlinearity at mercury(II) concentrations higher than 75 ppb. Kinetic and experimental factors appear to be the cause.