- 1. Water│RA│
- In Japan, because of the dreadful experiences of mercury pollution experienced in the past, mercury concentration in drinking water, waste water, and environmental water are strictly controlled, and various methods of measurement including JIS methods have been designated.
- 2. Atmospheric air │WA-AM│EM│
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Mercury occurs naturally of course, but anthropogenic mercury incidental to industrial activities has recently become to be perceived as a problem. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to introduce an emissions trading system targeting mercury contained in exhaust gases from coal fired power plants. Mercury contained in exhaust gas has always been measured with the solution absorption method, but currently the continuous-measurement instrument is being highly regarded and is in practical use. In Japan as well, mercury concentration guidelines for the general environmental air have been suggested and a method for measuring mercury as a toxic air pollutant has also been instituted. Because the concentration of mercury in general environmental air is low, therefore, sampling with gold-amalgamation method is recommended.
- 3. Solid matter │MA│SP│
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Mercury contained in soil, animals and plants, food products, household goods, and industrial material is targeted for analysis. Particularly in recent years, in order to reduce load on the environment attributable to harmful substances contained in products, industrial circles for one, have tightened control over everything from raw materials to products. Many of their samples are difficult to wet-decompose with acid, etc., and therefore are now done with the thermal decomposition method.
- │MA│SP│RA│
- Because mercury can be absorbed readily into the human body, mainly from ingestion of food products, all food products are targeted for measurement.
Hair, urine, blood, and nails are measured to investigate the effects of mercury on people’s health. Besides that, the viscera of living bodies are also measured in pathologic studies.
- 1. Nonferrous metal refining │WA-AM│
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Roasting gases used in the refining of non-ferrous metals such as copper, zinc, and lead contain sulfurous acid gas, from which sulfuric acid is produced. Crude sulfide ore contains a lot of mercury as well. Hence it is necessary to remove the mercury contained in roasting furnace gases. And when removing, it is necessary to measure and monitor the mercury contained in roasting furnace gases or products.
- 2. Electronic and electrical equipment industry │MA│RA│
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Under the RoHS Directive and WEEE Directive, any mercury contained in raw materials and parts is measured to form a system that can realize products offering reduced environmental loads.
- 1. Crude Oil & Natural Gas │PE│WA-AM│
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The fossil fuels natural gas and crude oil contain more than a little mercury, which must be removed as it is the source of problems such as the corrosion of pipes in the purification process, and poisoning from catalysts in the etrochemical industry. And so for this reason, it is necessary to monitor the mercury concentrations of feedstock, even after mercury removal.
The model SP-3D has been designated for the measuring methods intended for this purpose, or UOP Method 938-00 and IFP Method MA-4-9606.
- 2. Exploration of underground resources │PM│
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Since mercury's high volatility shows a close correspondence with subterranean heat, it is utilized in geothermal prospecting and spring prospecting as a means of knowing the spread of geothermal activities, and faults in geothermal fields.
And earth-science exploration utilizing mercury as an index element is said to be effective in metalliferous deposits exploration as well.
