Mercury determination in the environment using an advanced mercury analyzer (AMA)

Hagos Kiros Hagos

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis deals with the determination of mercury in environmental samples. The soil samples were first leached by four different extraction methods whereas the mineralization method using HNO3 and H2O2 was the most efficient one. Furthermore, the concentration of mercury, arsenic and other elements were measured using advanced mercury analyzer (AMA), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The results showed that, the highest mercury and arsenic concentrations were measured at the sludge bed (0.763 mg.kg-1 and 71.7 mg.kg-1 respectively). Furthermore, the results were compared with different limits such as universal treatment standards (UTS) or leaching limit values. Similar waste to fly ash was also tested and treated by the stabilization and solidification method in which the best ratio contained 60 % of waste and 40 % of Portland cement.

Abstract:

This thesis deals with the determination of mercury in environmental samples. The soil samples were first leached by four different extraction methods whereas the mineralization method using HNO3 and H2O2 was the most efficient one. Furthermore, the concentration of mercury, arsenic and other elements were measured using advanced mercury analyser (AMA), graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The results showed that, the highest mercury and arsenic concentrations were measured at the sludge bed (0.763 mg.kg-1 and 71.7 mg.kg-1 respectively). Furthermore, the results were compared with different limits such as universal treatment standards (UTS) or leaching limit values. Similar waste to fly ash was also tested and treated by the stabilization and solidification method in which the best ratio contained 60 % of waste and 40 % of Portland cement.

Keywords

mercury, extraction, mineralization, atomic absorption spectrometry, AMA 254, stabilization, and solidification

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 12. 5. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Štěpán Vinter, Ph.D.

Tomas Bata University in Zlín

Faculty of Technology

Master programme / field:
Environmental Engineering / -