This method is for determining total mercury in solid materials using a Nippon INstruments Corporation (NIC) MA-3000 Mercury Analyzer. The instrument uses a dual path detector to measure from the lower limit of 0.1 ng/g (mass-ppb) to an upper limit of 500 μg/g (mass-ppm), when analyzing a 50 mg sample. This procedure can also be used for aqueous liquid samples and high boiling hydrocarbons (such as crude or shale oil) through the use of approprate combustion programs. Volatile hydrocarbons (e.g. naphtha and BTX aromatics) should be analyzed by UOP Method 938.
