Empakt - 14-2-2006 at 18:55
What solvent( acid, base ,neutral?) would best dissolve fish tissue like tuna and such?
chemoleo - 14-2-2006 at 19:11
I'd first mesh the tissue in a meat grinder, for an extended period of time, in the presence of EDTA to keep the Hg in solution. To minimise
preciptates (which will also contain Hg), add a strong detergent such as SDS (to keep the lipids in), and add a cocktail of proteases, lipases, DNA
and RNAses.. This will keep most things in solution. Then centrifuge hard to get rid of insoluble material (which shouldnt contain much Hg), the
supernatant will be a cocktail of things, including your Hg.
Make sure the enzymes are EDTA resistant, i.e. that they don't contain metal ions else you will inactivate them.