Evaluation of selenium determination in biological material by atomic-absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

Existing methods of selenium determination by atomic-absorption spectroscopy using the hydride vapour generation technique were examined.

Of the factors investigated it was found that the method of digestion could be a source of considerable error. Stirring time in the vapour generator, acid concentration and final solution volume were also critical factors affecting the consistency of results. Sodium tetrahydroborate(III) pellets were found to have considerable advantages over a solution of the same chemical owing to their stability and the uniform rate of addition and reaction.