Abstract
A simple, sensitive analytic method for measuring to differentiate inorganic mercury and phenylmercury acetate has been developed. The method is found useful for analysis of mercurials used extensively as drug in medical and agricultural fields. An acidified sample solution was extracted with dithizone-carbon tetrachoride solution, the carbon tetrachloride layer was chromatographed on an alumina column, and the separated dithizonate solutions were measured by photoelectric colorimeter. By means of the method here reported, organic and inorganic mercury can be separately determined at levels to 0.02 p.p.m. with an error not exceeding 5%, using a minute amounts of materials and without subjecting it to the tedious procedure of preliminary oxidative degradation. This method is not disturbed by other metal ions. Stabilization of dithizonates is described.
