Sampling of atmospheric Hgo using home-made gold-coated sand sorbent prior to analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry

Gold-coated sand for amalgamation was synthesized and applied for the determination of mercury in ambient air using a home-made dual gold trap unit coupled to atomic absorption spectrometer. Gold-coated sand is prepared by chemical reduction of Au(III) solution with hydroxylamine depositing elemental gold on acid-etched sand.