Seawater mercury analysis at PPB levelsSeawater mercury analysis at PPB levels Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-082006enA new method of mercury detection at ng/mL concentrations in seawater, by total reflection x‐ray fluorescence (TXRF), is presented. Membranes that have complexation affinity to the mercury ions were produced on quartz reflectors. They were immersed in various seawater solutions containing mercury at low concentration (1–50 ng/mL) and they were left to equilibrate for 24 hours; membranes were well fixed on the reflectors. After the equilibration stage, they were taken out of the solution and they were analysed by TXRF; the minimum detection limit was determined to be equal to 0.4 ng/mL. The main ingredient of the membranes was the complexing reagent dithizone. The existence of high salt concentration in seawater did not prevent mercury's complexation from the membrane.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Instrumentation Science and Technology344425-433 Koulouridakis Pavlos Κουλουριδακης Παυλος Kallithrakas-Kontos Nikolaos Καλλιθρακας-Κοντος Νικολαος Gekas, Vassilis Taylor & Francis TXRF Water analysis Seawater Membrane