Trace Selenium Detection in Drinking Water by Intelligent Sample Processor Digestion and Hydride Generation-AFS

Objective  To advance an analytical method for the determination of selenium (Se) in drinking water by intelligent sample processor digestion and hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Methods  The experimental condition, such as the digestion parameter of the intelligent sample processor, instrument parameters, the concentration of reducing agent, the concentration of carrier and the masking effect of potassium ferricyanide, were investigated and optimized. Samples were pretreated by intelligent sample processor digestion under optimized condition and the digested sample was determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Results  The regression equation of the standard curve for Se was If=71.88c+1.575. The linear range was 0.033 μg/L~50 μg/L,the correlation coefficient was 0.9999, the detection limit was 0.033μg/L, the recovery was 94.0%~102%, and the relative standard deviations(RSD) of the method was 0.8%~2.2%.

Conclusion  The method was convenient, safe, rapid, accurate, reliable and suitable for the determination of Se in drinking-water.