Analytical Determination of Mercury, Arsenic and Selenium from Environmental Samples

Environmental contamination with mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) can occur from industrial emissions as well as runoff from mining, landfill and agricultural activities. Naturally occurring weathering and cycling processes also have a significant effect on environmental concentrations.

Hg, As & Se exist in a variety of chemical forms or species, which have great influence on their transport, bioaccumulation and toxicity. One analytical challenge is that often these species are present in ultra trace concentrations. Recent environmental guidelines and accepted methods concerning monitoring, removal, and effluent discharge have continued to become more stringent.

The ability to determine these elements, in their total and/or speciated forms, at these ultra trace concentrations has established P S Analytical (PSA) as the brand of choice for over 30 years. Understanding the fate and transportation particular elements is vitally important and requires accurate analysis. PSA is at the forefront of instrument design and method development to address these requirements.

PSA employs Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry (AFS) as a means of analytical detection. Employing AFS enables outstanding detection performance in terms of sensitivity, linear working ranges, as well as freedom from polyatomic interferences. Coupled with the formidable performance are the renowned PSA attributes of; ease-of-use, reliability and robustness as well as the supply of affordable system with low running costs, all of which are hallmarks of the brand.

With literally thousands of systems in the field today (both laboratory based and on-line analysers) and with support networks in Europe, USA and SE Asia, PSA offers the ideal package of performance, reliability and support.