Selenium speciation using high-performance liquid chromatography-hydride generation atomic fluorescence with on-line microwave reduction

Abstract

This paper describes an on-line method for the determination of inorganic selenium species in aqueous samples. Separation of the species is achieved using high-performance liquid chromatography, after which the analyte is acidified before flowing through an on-line microwave system. This latter stage leaves the selenium (iv) unaltered, but transforms selenium(vi) to selenium (iv) and thus converts it into a suitable oxidation state to undergo hydride generation. The selenium hydride is then determined using an atomic fluorescence detector. The method was validated by the analysis of a standard reference material (NIST SRM 1643c Trace Elements in H₂O).