Preconcentration, separation and determination of trace Hg(II) in environmental samples with aminopropylbenzoylazo-2-mercaptobenzothiazole bonded to silica gel Original Research Article

This paper reports a simple and highly selective method for the preconcentration and separation of trace Hg(II) with aminopropylbenzoylazo-2-mercaptobenzothiazole bonded to silica gel (ABMBT·SG). ABMBT·SG was tested for the selective extraction of Hg(II) and it showed an exchange capacity of 41.4 μmol g−1. After preconcentration and separation using an ABMBT·SG column, trace Hg(II) in environmental samples can be determined by UV–VIS spectrophotometry. The chromatographic column packed with ABMBT·SG can be reused. The method is simple and efficient, and is applied to polluted soil (2 μg g−1), incinerated biological material (9 or 18 ng g−1) and spiked natural water (5 μg l−1).