Ultratrace determination of inorganic selenium without signal calibration

Anal Chem. 2007 Jun 15;79(12):4558-63. doi: 10.1021/ac061838t. Epub 2007 May 18.

Abstract

To more readily evaluate the complex biogeochemistry of selenium, a flow-through electrochemical method was developed that can accurately determine Se(IV) concentrations in aqueous samples to part-per-trillion levels without signal calibration. Stripping methods were used in conjunction with a high-efficiency, flow-through cell. The cell was designed with a novel gold working electrode that was separated from a porous counter electrode by a Nafion membrane. Because this design permitted exhaustive deposition of selenium from the sample stream as well as efficient coulometric stripping, determinations obeyed Faraday's law over a reasonably wide range of operating conditions. The method had a minimum quantitation limit of approximately 8 ng and a maximum limit of 800 ng for Se(IV). It was reliable for sample volumes as small as 0.5 mL and as high as 20 mL, thereby allowing determinations from part-per-million to just below part-per-billion levels. Interferences from Cu(II) and arsenate were evident, but only when these species were present at concentrations exceeding 10 mg.L-1. Overall, the method had a performance comparable to hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry but with less cumbersome equipment and freedom from calibration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arsenates / chemistry
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Calibration
  • Cations
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry
  • Humans
  • Potentiometry / instrumentation
  • Potentiometry / methods
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Selenium / analysis*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Arsenates
  • Cations
  • Copper
  • Selenium
  • arsenic acid