Comparison of instrumental methods for the determination of total selenium in environmental samples

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparison of instrumental methods for the determination of total selenium in environmental samples

AU - Haygarth, Philip M.

AU - Philip Rowland, A.

AU - Stürup, Stefan

AU - Jones, Kevin C.

PY - 1993/1/1

Y1 - 1993/1/1

N2 - Choosing the appropriate instrumental method for the determination of total Se in environmental samples is difficult, considering the wide choice of methods currently available. By use of a sediment matrix, an objective comparison is made between fluorimetry, hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS), hydride generation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (HG-ICP-AES), hydride generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG-ICP-MS) and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) methods, involving technical criteria such as detection limits, reproducibility, time taken for analysis and interferences. A novel flow injection (Fl) system was constructed and adapted for AAS to improve the efficiency of HG systems and shows that the method of hydride sample injection can have a substantial influence on over-all performance. Consideration is given to the definition and use of the term limit of detection. The conclusions of the study are that fluorimetry, HGAAS and HG-ICP-AES will continue to be usefully employed for routine laboratory analyses, although with the fluorimetric method, performance characteristics are inferior in comparison with those of more recent analytical techniques. The FI-HGAAS method is superior to the single sample HGAAS system. For samples of low Se concentration, HG-ICP-MS and RNAA methods are superior.

AB - Choosing the appropriate instrumental method for the determination of total Se in environmental samples is difficult, considering the wide choice of methods currently available. By use of a sediment matrix, an objective comparison is made between fluorimetry, hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS), hydride generation inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (HG-ICP-AES), hydride generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HG-ICP-MS) and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) methods, involving technical criteria such as detection limits, reproducibility, time taken for analysis and interferences. A novel flow injection (Fl) system was constructed and adapted for AAS to improve the efficiency of HG systems and shows that the method of hydride sample injection can have a substantial influence on over-all performance. Consideration is given to the definition and use of the term limit of detection. The conclusions of the study are that fluorimetry, HGAAS and HG-ICP-AES will continue to be usefully employed for routine laboratory analyses, although with the fluorimetric method, performance characteristics are inferior in comparison with those of more recent analytical techniques. The FI-HGAAS method is superior to the single sample HGAAS system. For samples of low Se concentration, HG-ICP-MS and RNAA methods are superior.

KW - Atomic absorption spectrometry

KW - Fluorimetry

KW - Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

KW - Neutron activation analysis

KW - Selenium determination

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0001189269&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1039/AN9931801303

DO - 10.1039/AN9931801303

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:0001189269

SN - 0003-2654

VL - 118

SP - 1303

EP - 1308

JO - The Analyst

JF - The Analyst

IS - 10

ER -