| CPC G01N 21/3504 (2013.01) [G01N 33/0013 (2013.01); H05B 3/42 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. An apparatus, comprising:
a three-way solenoid valve fluidly connected to a tube furnace through a mercury collection tube, a non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) detector through a halogen trap, and a gas supply line;
wherein the tube furnace is configured to generate burnt products of samples, the burnt products including carbon dioxide, halogen acid, and mercury;
wherein the tube furnace has a cylindrical outlet containing or connected to the mercury collection tube, wherein the mercury collection tube contains an absorptive material comprising gold particles and is sealably disposed in the cylindrical outlet such that gases passing through the cylindrical outlet pass entirely through the mercury collection tube;
wherein the gas supply line is fluidly connected to a pressure regulator configured to regulate a flow speed of an air or oxygen flow through the three-way solenoid valve, the halogen trap and the NDIR detector;
wherein the halogen trap contains magnesium perchlorate and is configured to remove the halogen acid from the burnt products; and
wherein the NDIR detector is coupled to the halogen trap and configured to detect the carbon dioxide in the burnt products.
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