Determination of trace mercury by solid substrate-room temperature phosphorimetry quenching method based on catalytic effect of Hg2+ on formation of the ion association complex [Sn(XO)6]4+.[(Fin)4].

A new method for the determination of trace mercury by solid substrate-room temperature phosphorimetry (SS-RTP) quenching method has been established. In glycine-HCl buffer solution, xylenol orange (XO) can react with Sn4+ to form the complex [Sn(XO)6]4+. [Sn(XO)6]4+ can interact with Fin- (fluorescein anion) to form the ion associate [Sn(XO)6]4+.[(Fin)4]-, which can emit strong and stable room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) on polyamide membrane (PAM). Hg2+ can catalyze H2O2 oxidizing the ion association complex [Sn(XO)6]4+.[(Fin)4]-, which causes the RTP to quench. The DeltaIp value is directly proportional to the concentration of Hg2+ in the range of 0.016-1.6 fg spot(-1) (corresponding concentration: 0.040-4.0 pg ml(-1), 0.40 microl spot(-1)), and the regression equation of working cure is DeltaIp=10.03+83.15 m Hg2+ (fg spot(-1)), (r=0.9987, n=6) and the detection limit (LD) is 3.6 ag spot(-1)(corresponding concentration: 9.0 x 10(-15) g ml(-1), the sample volume: 0.4 microl). This simple, rapid, accurate method is of high selectivity and good repeatability, and it has been successfully applied to the determination of trace mercury in real samples. The reaction mechanism for catalyzing H2O2 oxidizing the ion association complex ([Sn(XO)6]4+.[(Fin)4]-) SS-RTP quenching method to determine trace mercury is also discussed.