Method and System for the Quantitative Chemical Speciation of Mercury and Other Toxic Pollutants
- Technology Benefits
- Routine speciation of trace metals.
- Technology Application
- Analytical equipment for environmental or research purposes.
- Detailed Technology Description
- The invention is a portable flow-system device which includes a gold and/or sulfur nanoparticle-based substrate to capture a sample (air, water). The device is then mounted on a modified mass spectrometer to obtain both qualitative and quantitative chemical speciation date for mercury or other toxic pollutants contained in the sample.
- *Abstract
-
None
- *Background
- Mercury is the top-identified contaminant in the environment and has been identified as a toxic agent by international advisory boards. Once emitted, mercury may be deposited by wet and dry processes to environmental surfaces. Mercury does not break down in the environment and can build up in living things. Therefore, knowledge of the different forms or speciation of atmospheric mercury is crucial for predicting its deposition and understanding its biogeochemical cycling. Current techniques provide information on elemental analysis and the chemical composition of the mercury species cannot be determined in detail. Mercury speciation measurement is one of the most important challenges of mercury characterization and remediation protocols.
- Country/Region
- USA
For more information, please click Here
