High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of selenium in coal after derivatization to 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazoles

Abstract

High-performance liquid chromatography was examined for the determination of selenium after derivatization to 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazoles using 1,2-diaminobenzene, 1,2-diamino-4-nitrobenzene (NDAB), 2,3-diaminonaphthalene and 3,3′-diaminobenzidine as derivatizing agents. Elution was carried out using a mixture of chloroform and hexane, with ultraviolet spectrophotometric detection. The 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazoles were extracted into toluene. Linear calibrations were obtained for 0–4 µg of selenium in 10 cm³ of solution and the detection limits were 20–50 ng of selenium in 10 cm³ of solution. The method was applied to the determination of selenium in coal samples and a shampoo using NDAB as the derivatizing reagent in acidic solution.