Determination of Ultra-Trace Mercury Vapor Levels from Industrial and Military Metal Components

For many years, scrap metal reclaimers did not separate the materials containing mercury from other metals, and as a result a significant portion of the Ferrous and non-Ferrous metals and alloys used today contain some metallic mercury. The impact of mercury vapor toxicity has prompted many organizations, both military and private, to specify certain limits on the amount of mercury that out-gasses from a metal part. This application note demonstrates the Buck Model 400A Mercury Analyzer interfaced with the Buck Model 4 Mercury Enhancement Accessory can be used to determine ultra-trace mercury vapor levels and achieve levels as low as 0.01 micrograms/m³.