Estimation of mercury and zinc concentration in the vapour phase by measuring oxygen partial pressure

Abstract Indirect on-line estimation of metal vapours of Hg and Zn using YSZ based electrochemical oxygen sensor is attempted. Change in oxygen partial pressure, in presence and absence of these metals vapours, enables the estimation by using oxygen sensor. Using this method, the Zn metal vapours has been detected down to 13.3 ± 0.7 vppm and for Hg vapour, the lowest detection limit is 68.1 ± 0.7 vppm. The measured vapour pressure is in agreement with the predicted values.