Determination of alkylselenides by gas chromatography–electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A method for the determination of alkylselenides by gas chromatography (GC)–electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. Dimethylselenide, diethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide were separated by GC, followed by introduction of the separated compounds into a graphite furnace sequentially; the compounds were then adsorbed onto the palladium coated graphite furnace wall. Sufficient time was allowed for operation of the furnace programme during the time interval between each elution peak. The sensitivities expressed as characteristic mass giving 0.0044 absorbance are 0.018, 0.012 and 0.030 ng of selenium in dimethylselenide, diethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, respectively. The proposed method was applied to the determination of organic vapour-phase selenium evolved from soil.