Quantitative reduction of selenate ion to selenite in aqueous samples

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00137a021· OSTI ID:6542571

Brimmer, S P; Fawcett, W R; Kulhavy, K A

Trace analysis for selenium in biological materials and water has chiefly been concerned with determination of the total amount of the element. However, speciation of selenium with respect to oxidation state is important in assessing the bioavailability of the element and its toxicity. Electroanalysis is especially well suited to this type of speciation and has the additional advantage that other trace elements can be determined simultaneously. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess more carefully the conditions under which selenate is quantitatively converted to selenite. Selenite and selenate were determined in drainage water samples supplied by the US Department of Agriculture, Fresno, CA. The anions were removed from the sample using an anion exchange resin (Amberlite IRA-400), and flushed from the column with dilute HCl to give a 0.12 M solution. The electroanalytical procedure was shown to be effective over a wide concentration range, the lowest level of selenium in the samples tested being 35 ppb.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Davis
• OSTI ID: 6542571
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: Anal. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 59:10; ISSN ANCHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400102* -- Chemical & Spectral Procedures
500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
MIXTURES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
REACTION KINETICS
REDUCTION
SELENATES
SELENITES
SELENIUM
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SEMIMETALS
SOLUTIONS
TRACE AMOUNTS
VOLTAMETRY
WATER