The Influence of Sample Drying Procedures on Mercury Concentrations Analyzed in Soils

0443264 - GLÚ 2016 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Hojdová, Maria - Rohovec, Jan - Chrastný, V. - Penížek, V. - Navrátil, Tomáš
The Influence of Sample Drying Procedures on Mercury Concentrations Analyzed in Soils.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Roč. 94, č. 5 (2015), s. 570-576. ISSN 0007-4861. E-ISSN 1432-0800
R&D Projects: GA ČR GP526/09/P404; GA ČR(CZ) GAP210/11/1369
Institutional support: RVO:67985831
Keywords : sample preparation * drying procedures * microbial activity * freeze-drying * contamination
Subject RIV: DD - Geochemistry
Impact factor: 1.191, year: 2015

Methods commonly used for soil sample preparation may be unsuitable for measuring Hg concentrations due to the possible loss of volatile Hg species when drying at higher temperatures. Here, the effects of freeze-drying, air drying at 25°C and oven-drying at 105°C on Hg concentrations in two soil types and three standard reference materials were tested. Two soils with different levels of Hg contamination and three reference materials were examined. A systematic decrease of Hg concentrations was observed in air-dried (24 %) and oven-dried (3 %) contaminated upland soils in comparison to freeze-dried control samples. The 105°C oven drying also led to loss of Hg from reference materials (5 %–8 % in comparison with the certified Hg concentration). Different results from the drying of sterilized reference materials and natural soils were probably related to the extent of microbiological activity, demonstrating the importance of this parameter in sample preparation for Hg analysis.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0246001