Application of the quartz crystal microbalance method for measuring mercury in the air of working environments involved to artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM)
Artisanal small gold mining (ASGM) is responsible for approximately 40% of the total Hg emissions into the atmosphere worldwide. In developing countries, many people are engaged in ASGM activities. We developed a small, simple Hg measuring device, which detects Hg in the air based on the change of t...
| Autor principal: | Marumoto, Kohji |
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| Outros Autores: | Noda, Kazutoshi, Pereira, Jo?o Guilherme Duarte, Lima, Marcelo de Oliveira, Jesus, Iracina Maura de, Marumoto, Masumi, Akagi, Hirokatsu |
| Grau: | Artigo |
| Idioma: | eng |
| Publicado em: |
Nihon Bunseki Kagakkai
2021
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| Acesso em linha: |
http://patua.iec.gov.br//handle/iec/4226 |
| Resumo: |
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Artisanal small gold mining (ASGM) is responsible for approximately 40% of the total Hg emissions into the atmosphere worldwide. In developing countries, many people are engaged in ASGM activities. We developed a small, simple Hg measuring device, which detects Hg in the air based on the change of the oscillation frequency of an Au electrode on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). This device is called QCM-Hg. We tested the viability of the QCM-Hg in various work settings including a gold mining area and gold shops. In working environments with an airborne Hg concentration of several ?g m-3, the changing rate of the oscillation frequency for either 2 or 3 min corresponded with the Hg concentrations measured using the conventional method of gold amalgamation and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometer (CVAAS). The results revealed that the QCM-Hg is a useful device for real-time Hg monitoring in actual working environments related to ASGM activities and Hg treatment facilities. |