Analytical Sciences

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)

Kohji MARUMOTO,*1 Kazutoshi NODA,*2 João P. G. PEREIRA,*3 Marcelo DE OLIVEIRA LIMA,*3 Iracina M. DE JESUS,*3 Masumi MARUMOTO,*4 and Hirokatsu AKAGI*5

*1 Environmental Chemistry Section, National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD), 4058-18 Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
*2 Environmental Measurement Research Institute, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan
*3 Environmental Section, Institute Evandro Chagas (IEC), Rodovia BR-316 km 7 s/n-Levilandia-67030-000, Ananindeua, Para, Brasil
*4 Toxicologic Pathology Section, National Institute for Minamata Disease (NIMD), 4058-18, Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
*5 International Mercury Laboratory (IML), 426-2 Fukuro, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0034, Japan

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 μg 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.

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