Recent development of non-chromatographic atomic spectrometry for speciation analysis of mercury

To gain deep insight into the content of inorganic mercury (Hg2+) and organic mercury (OrgHg) in the organisms or environment, speciation analysis was urgently required. The traditional methods for mercury speciation are based on chromatographic separation coupled with atomic spectrometry. Recently, due to target analytes can be separated by their chemical and physical behavior, many efforts have been made to expand non-chromatographic atomic spectroscopy methods. Comparing to chromatographic techniques, they have advantages of time saving, cost-effective, and high detection power. This paper presents a brief and systemic review for mercury speciation by non-chromatographic-atomic spectrometry in recent years, including selective reduction, extraction, selective atomization, and photochemical vapor generation.