Spectrophotometric determination of mercury in water samples after cloud point extraction using nonionic surfactant Triton X-114.

A cloud point extraction process using the nonionic surfactant Triton X-114 for extracting mercury from aqueous solutions was investigated. The method is based on the complexation reaction of Hg(II) with Thio-Michler's Ketone (TMK) and micelle-mediated extraction of the complex. The optimal extraction and reaction conditions (e.g., pH, reagent concentration, effect of time) were studied, and the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g., limit of detection, linear range) were obtained. Linearity was obeyed in the range of 5.0-80.0 ng mL(-1) of Hg(II) ion. The detection limit of the method was 0.83 ng mL(-1) of Hg(II) ion. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the determination of mercury in water samples.