[Determination of trace amounts of mercury in sediments by sequential injection cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry coupled with microwave-assisted digestion].

A novel method for the determination of trace amounts of mercury in sediments by sequential injection cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry coupled with microwave assisted digestion was developed in this paper. Satisfactory results were found when the digestion was carried out at 140 degrees C for 5 min by using 10% HCl-50% HNO3- 40% H2O or 30% HCl-20% HNO3- 50% H2O media. The linear range was 0.