Analyte Method Supporting media Analytical instrument LOD Linearity range QA/QC studies Analyzed samples Interference study Ref Hg(II) Fluorescence Dithioacetal-substituted triphenylimidazole Fluorescence spectrometer 4.3 nM 0–10 μ M Sensitivity and selectivity of the method evaluated — Cations, such as Ag+ , CO2+ , K+ , Sn2+ , Cu2+ , Ni2+ , Mn2+ , Na+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+ , Pb2+ , Fe3+ , and Cd2+ did not interfere in determination of Hg2+ [96 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence 2-Aminoethyl piperazine and 4-chloro-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole Fluorescence spectrometer 0.57 μ M 0.00–16.6 μ M The method is selective over 18 metal ions. Recoveries of Hg(II) in water samples in the range of 95–98.2% Water samples Either no or a small fluorescence signal was observed for Na2+ , K2+ , Mg2+ , Ca2+ , Al3+ , Ga3+ , In3+ , Cr3+ , Mn2+ , Fe2+ , Fe3+ , Co2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ , Zn2+ Cd2+ , and Pb2+ ions [110 ] GEM Acid digestion Teflon filters ICP-MS 0.015 M — SRM 1633c was analyzed. Recoveries were in the range of 84–112% Particulate matter — [45 ] Hg(II) CVG LiAlH4 , SnCl2 /THB HG-AFS 0.0004 μ M The RSD values were less than 7.0% for 11 measurements. CRMs were analyzed Soil, water, and human hair samples 10 mg L−1 for Fe3+ , 20 mg L−1 for Co2+ , 10 mg L−1 for Ni2+ , and 20 mg L−1 for Cu2+. For arsenic and antimony, no interference from 25 mg L−1 Cu2+ , Co2+ , or Ni2+ was observed [89 ] Hg(II) Photochemical vapor generation — ICP-OES 0.006 μ M Up to 0.25 μ M Recoveries of Hg(II) in reals samples were in the range of 79–112% Petroleum production water K+ , Ba2+ , Sr2+ , Mg2+ , Cu2+ , Pb2+ , and Zn2+ were over the concentration ranges studied, whereas the presence of Ca2+ , Ni2+ , Sb3+ , As3+ , Se4+ , Fe3+ , and Cr3+ was significant [111 ] Hg(II) Acid digestion — ICP-MS — 0.0005–0.5 μ M Precision of the method for Hg2+ is 5.6% with six replicates Fish samples Hg(II) was analyzed along with Cd2+ and Pb2+ [112 ] Total Hg Wet digestion — AAS — — — Fish samples Hg(II) was analyzed along with Cd2+ and Pb2+ [68 ] Hg speciation Acid digestion — ICP-MS 0.00004 μ l/L — NIST 612 was analyzed Petroleum hydrocarbons — [88 ] Total Hg Chemical vapor generation Nonionic surfactants AFS 22.5 μ M — CRMs (GBW08603, GBW(E) 080401 and GBW(E)080402) were analyzed Natural water samples Severe interference of cations was observed at 10 mg L−1 concentration [58 ] Total Hg Sequential extraction — CV-AAS — — Comparison of the results with other methods was performed Thar coal — [102 ] Hg(II) Aptasensor Core-shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles AFS 0.33 nM 0–1.2, 1.2–14 nM Recoveries were over 94% for the determination of Hg(II) in real samples. The RSD values for Hg(II) determinations were lower than 5.1% Real water samples Selective in presence of Cd2+ , Pb2+ , Zn2+ , Mn2+ , Co2+ , Fe2+ , Cu2+ , and Ag+ [113 ] Hg(II) Chemosensor Porphyrin-thymine conjugates Luminescence spectrometer 6.7 nM — Method reversibility was reported — Interference of Zn2 +, Cu2+ , Ni2+ , Mn2+ , Mg2+ , Pb2+ , and Cd2+ was inhibited [97 ] Hg PVG and CVG NaBH4 /SnCl2 PVG-AAS, CV-AAS (NaBH4 ) and CV-AAS (SnCl2 ) 0.0006, 0.0005, and 0.0002 μ M 0.012–0.05 μ M The accuracy was evaluated by assessing recoveries in spiked samples which were in the range of 84–108.3% Glycerin samples — [91 ] Total Hg Solid sampling analysis — GF-AAS 0.0014 μ l/L — SRM (NIST-695) was analyzed. The RSD values were better than 8.2% for five replicates Phosphate fertilizers — [53 ] DGM, TGM — — CV-AFS 1.35 × 10−8 μ M (DGM), 1.35 × 10−8 μ M (TGM) — Air-sea interface of Minamata — [46 ] Methyl Hg Distillation and solvent extraction KBr/CuSO4 GC-ICP-MS 2.0 × 10−5 μ g g−1 — CRM of ERM-CC580 was analyzed Peat soil — [59 ] Total Hg Ultrasound extraction NaBH4 /isoamyl alcohol, thiourea CV-AAS 70 μ M — The RSD values of Hg determinations in vinegar was less than 8.11% Vinegar Vanadium also determined in the same samples [108 ] Total Hg Slurry sampling CV-AAS 150 μ M — The RSD values in the mercury determinations was less than 10.89%. The recoveries were in the range of 85–106% Iron supplement — [103 ] Total Hg NaBH4 AES 0.00004 μ g g−1 — — Sea food — [69 ] Hg(II) Preconcentration Metal-organic frame work CV-AAS 0.05 μ M — SRMs (DOLT-4 and DORM-2) were analyzed. The RSD values in the determination of Hg(II) was less than 10% Sea food samples Majority of cations did not interfere in the determination of Hg(II) at pH 6.25 experimental condition [54 ] Total Hg Solid sampling — HR-AAS 2.0 × 10−5 μ g (sediment), 9.6 × 10−5 μ g (marine biota) 2.0 × 10−5 –0.004 μ g (sediment), 2.0 × 10−5 –0.025 μ g (marine biota) CRMs (PACS-2, IAEA-405, SRM 2703, BCR-464, IAEA-436, DORM-2, MA-ROPME-2/TM) were analyzed Sediment and marine biota samples — [55 ] Total Hg Thermal desorption — AAS 0.0006 μ g g−1 — CRMs (CRM-1515, MESS-3 and TORT-2) were analyzed with recoveries 96.0–104.8% Fish and sea food samples — [60 ] Total Hg ISO guide 34 — CV-ICP-MS 8.0 × 10−5 μ g/g 1.9–50 × 10−5 μ g/g CRM (BCR-579) was analyzed Sea water By using cold vapor generation spectral interferences were avoided [61 ] Total Hg Acid digestion Nitric and perchloric acid AAS 0.0004749 μ g/g 0.0002–0.01 μ M The mean recovery of Hg was 78.65%. RSD values for interday precision of Hg was 7.17% Cream cosmetics Along with Hg, zinc was also determined [109 ] Total Hg Extraction NaBH4 CV-AAS 0.003 μ M 0.05–0.5 μ M The recoveries of Hg in oil samples were in the range of 80–103% Oil samples — [104 ] Total Hg Thermal desorption — TDA-AAS 0.025 μ g/g (LOQ) — Mean recovery of Hg in real samples was 94.2% and SD was 3.5% Sea food — [105 ] Total Hg Method EPA 7473 Teflon CV-AFS 0.0006 μ g g−1 0.002–0.08 μ g⋅g−1 CRM (BCR-279) was analyzed and RSD in the determination of Hg in seaweeds is less than 10% Seaweeds — [62 ] Hg(II) Immobilization Dithizone FAAS 2.0 × 10−9 M 1.1 × 10−8 –2.0 × 10−6 M The coefficients of variation for Hg(II) was found to be 2.7% Industrial wastewater, spiked tap water, and natural water Except Cu2+ , the other ions (Mn2+ , Ni2+ , Pb2+ , Co2+ , Cd2+ , Fe2+ , Fe3+ , and Al3+ ) did not interfere up to 50-fold excess [114 ] MeHg Online preconcentration — HPLC-CV-AFS 40000 μ M 5–2500 μ M CRMs (NIES CRM no. 13 and IAEA-085) were analyzed. Recoveries of MeHg from real samples were in the range of 91.4–101.8% Sewage, river, and seawater samples — [47 ] Hg(II) Solid phase extraction Ion imprinted polymeric nanomaterials CV-AAS 0.18 μ M — The RSD values for eight replicates was 4.2% Water and human hair samples In presence of large amounts of Cu2+ , Ni2+ , Cd2+ , Zn2+ , Mn2+ , Pb2+ , Fe3+ , and Cr3+ ion Hg(II) was effectively determined [115 ] Hg(II), MeHg Rapid extraction — HPLC-ICPMS 0.0002 (Hg2+), 0.0001 (MeHg) μ g g−1 — CRMs (TORT-2 and DORM-2) were analyzed Fish samples — [63 ] Speciation Liquid-liquid microextraction Ionic liquid vortex-assisted HPLC-CV-AFS 3.4–6.1 × 10−6 μ g/g 0.0001–0.07 μ g/g The RSD values were less than 6.4% Sediment samples — [92 ] Total Hg Solid sampling — TDA-AAS 0.001 μ g g−1 0.025–0.2 μ g g−1 Recoveries of Hg from real samples were in the range of 89–99% Fish and shrimp samples — [106 ] Hg speciation Cloud point extraction Polyethylene glycol Spectrophotometer 0.045 μ M 0.05–0.5 μ M The RSD values of the method were below 2.6% River water and river sediment No interference of Cd2+, Bi3+, and Pb2+ was observed in the determination of Hg(II) [107 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone Flow injection spectrophotometer 0.15 μ M 0.25–7.5 μ M The results were compared with the data obtained with ICP-MS Cosmetics and Thai traditional medicines 20-fold Fe2+ , Zn2+ , and Cu2+ , 40-fold Pb2+ , 50-fold Al3+ , Fe3+ , and Mn2+ did not interfere in the determination of Hg(II) [94 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric, fluorescence Calixpyrrole hydrazide Spectrofluorometer 1 nM 1 nM–1 μ M — Groundwater and industrial effluent water No interference of Pb(II), Cd(II), Mn(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), Zn(II), Hg(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) was observed [70 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence probe Chitosan hydrogel Fluorescence spectrophotometer 0.9 nM 5.0–50 nM — Water samples Cations such as Fe3+ , Co2+ , Pb2+ , Cu2+ , Cd2+ , Ni2+ , and Zn2+ did not interfere in the determination of Hg(II) [71 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence sensor CdTe quantum dots Fluorescence spectrophotometer 4.0 nM 6.0–450 nM RSD values were less than 4.15% Lake water samples Interference of 10-fold Pb2+ , Cu2+ , and Ag+ was less than 7% [116 ] Hg(II) Fluorescent chemosensor DA Fluorescence spectrophotometer 0.0028 μ l/L — Theoretical and experimental results were in good agreement with each other — Simultaneous determination of Ag+ and Cu2+ was reported [98 ] Hg(II) Time-gated fluorescent sensing Thymine Spectrofluorometer 0.11 nM 0.20–10 nM Recoveries of Hg(II) in environmental water samples were in the range of 93.75–102.5% Drinking water samples No interference of Ag+, Co2+ , Ni2+ , Ca2+ , Cd2+ , Al3+ , Fe3+ , Au3+ , Cr2+ , Mn2+ , Pb2+ , Cu2+ , Mg2+ , Zn2+ , and Ba2+ was reported [117 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric Gold nanoparticles Spectrophotometer 0.5 nM 0.5–300 nM CRM (GBW (E) 080392) was analyzed and the recoveries were found in the range of 88.9–106% Tap water and lake water Cr3+ , Mn2+ , Co2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ , Fe3+ , Zn2+ , Cd2+ , and Pb2+ ions did not interfere in the determination of Hg2+ [64 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence Schiff base Fluorescence spectrophotometer 2.82 × 10−6 M — Effectiveness of the method was proved by confocal fluorescence microscope Living cells — [95 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric Silver nanoparticles Spectrophotometer 1.18 × 10−9 M 10–50 nM A good linear correlation ( = 0.9799) was obtained for different concentrations of Hg(II) and absorbance ratio Lake, seawater, and groundwater Fe2+ , Fe3+ , Cr6+ , Pb2+ , Mn2+ , Al3+ , Ni2+ , Cr3+ , Cd2+ , Mg2+ , and Zn2+ did not interfere up to 1000 times of detection limit of Hg(II) [118 ] Hg(II) Chemosensor Dimeric binol-based chemosensor Spectrofluorometer 4.4 × 10−7 M — — Wastewater samples 100 equivalents of Na+ , K+ , Mg2+ , Ce3+ , Ca2+ , Ba2+ , Cd2+ , Mn2+ , Co2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ , Cr3+ , Zn2+ , Pb2+ , Fe2+ , Fe3+ , Al3+ , and Ag+ [72 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric Bovine serum albumin Spectrophotometer 7.2 nM 0–120 nM Results were compared with ICP-MS Drinking water samples No interference of Na+ , Mg2+ , Ca2+ , Cd2+ , Mn2+ , Co2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ , Zn2+ , Pb2+ , Fe3+ , and Au3+ was observed [119 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence Gold nanocluster Spectrofluorometer 30 nM — Recoveries of Hg(II) in spiked samples were in the range of 97.7–99.3% Lake water samples No interference of Na+ , Mg2+ , Ca2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ , Zn2+ , Ce3+ , Pt4+ , and Al3+ was observed [120 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric Rhodamine B Spectrofluorometer 1.71 × 10−6 M — — Spiked tap water samples Interference of several ions was negligible in the determination of Hg(II) [73 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence — Fluorescence spectrometer 9.56 × 10−9 M — — — Hg(II) can be detectable in presence of Fe3+ , Cu2+ , Co2+ , Ni2+ , Cd2+ , Pb2+ , Zn2+ , and Cr3+ [74 ] Hg(II) Adsorption Rhodamine Fluorescence spectrophotometer 3.42 × 10−6 M 0–6.0 μ M — Drinking and lake water No interference of Cd2+ , Co2+ , Cu2+ , Fe3+ , Mn2+ , Ni2+ , Pb2+ , and Zn2+ at 581 nm [75 ] Hg(II) Fluorimetric Coumarinyldithiolane Fluorescence spectrophotometer — 0.06–1.5 μ M — Aqueous solutions No influence of Al3+ , Zn2+ , Co2+ , Ni2+ , Cu2+ , Cd2+ , Cr3+ , and Pb2+ on the determination of Hg(II) in presence of probe [76 ] Hg(II) Fluorescence sensors Peanut shell Fluorescence spectrometer 8.5 × 10−9 M 0–19 × 10−8 M — Lake water The method was selective for Hg(II) [77 ] Hg(II) Colorimetric L-Arginine Spectrophotometer 5 nM 1–20 and 20–600 μ M — Food samples No interference from Cd2+ , Co2+ , Cu2+ , Ni2+ , and Pb2+ was observed [78 ]