One-step displacement dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry for the selective determination of methylmercury in environmental samples

• One-step displacement DLLME with GFAAS was developed for the determination of MeHg.
• The interferences by transitional metal were largely reduced.
• An enhancement factor of 81 was achieved with a sample volume of 5.0 mL
• The limit of detection of this proposed method was 13.6 ng L−1 (as Hg).

A novel method for the selective determination of methylmercury (MeHg) was developed by one-step displacement dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (D-DLLME) coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. In the proposed method, Cu(II) reacted with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) to form Cu-DDTC complex, which was used as the chelating agent instead of DDTC for the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) of MeHg. Because the stability of MeHg-DDTC is higher than that of Cu-DDTC, MeHg can displace Cu from the Cu-DDTC complex and be preconcentrated in a single DLLME procedure. MeHg could be extracted into the extraction solvent phase at pH 6 while Hg(II) remained in the sample solution. Potential interference from co-existing metal ions with lower DDTC complex stability was largely eliminated without the need of any masking reagent. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection of this method was 13.6 ng L−1 (as Hg), and an enhancement factor of 81 was achieved with a sample volume of 5.0 mL. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of trace MeHg in some environmental samples with satisfactory results.

One-step displacement dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction coupled with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was developed for the selective determination of methylmercury. Methylmercury could be extracted into the extraction solvent phase at pH 6 while Hg(II) remained in the sample solution. Potential interference from co-existing metal ions with lower DDTC complex stability was largely eliminated without the need of any masking reagent.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide