Speciation of selenite and selenate using living bacteria

In this work, a reliable method is described for speciation of soluble inorganic selenium ions, Se(IV) and Se(VI), which combines an uptake process by using living bacterial cells and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). A selective retention of either Se(IV) or Se(IV) plus Se(VI) can be carried out by using the uptake system made up of either Pseudomonas putida or Escherichia coli strains cultivated in a culture medium based on glucose (P. putida) and glucose plus dipotassium phosphate (E. coli) mixed together with the original sample solution containing the selenium species. Discrimination between inorganic selenium species is possible by combining the optimization of the bacterial cell, the growth conditions and the relative rates of their retention from the sample. In the general procedure, an equilibrium between the analyte in the solution and the uptake system is allowed to be established, and then the concentration of selenium is determined directly in the biomass by slurry sampling ETAAS. Nonetheless, a theoretical model is proposed to describe the retention process by the living bacterial cells, which also provides a feasible quantification of the extraction process before the adsorption equilibrium is reached and whenever the agitation conditions and the sampling time are under control. The detection limits for the inorganic selenium species at the best retention conditions are of 5.7 ng Se(IV) ml(-1) for P. putida and 6.1 ng Se(IV) ml(-1) and 6.3 ng Se(VI) ml(-1) for E. coli. The relative standard deviations of the adsorption/determination process are 2.9-6.3%.     

Determination of selenium and tellurium compounds in biological samples by ion chromatography dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric (IC-ICP-MS) method for the speciation of selenium and tellurium compounds namely selenite [Se(IV)], selenate [Se(VI)], Se-methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), selenomethione (SeMet), tellurite [Te(IV)] and tellurate [Te(VI)] is described. Chromatographic separation is performed in gradient elution mode using 0.5 mmol L(-1) ammonium citrate in 2% methanol (pH 3.7) and 20 mmol L(-1) ammonium citrate in 2% methanol (pH 8.0). The analyses are carried out using dynamic reaction cell (DRC) ICP-MS. The DRC conditions have also been optimized to obtain interference free measurements of (78)Se(+) and (80)Se(+) which are otherwise interfered by (38)Ar(40)Ar(+) and (40)Ar(40)Ar(+), respectively. The detection limits of the procedure are in the range 0.01-0.03 ng Se mL(-1) and 0.01-0.08 ng Te mL(-1), respectively. The accuracy of the method has been verified by comparing the sum of the concentrations of individual species obtained by the present procedure with the total concentration of the elements in two NIST SRMs Whole Milk Powder RM 8435 and Rice Flour SRM 1568a. The selenium and tellurium species are extracted from milk powder and rice flour samples by using Protease XIV at 70 degrees C on a water bath for 30 min.     

Determination of Se(IV) and Se(VI) in Italian mineral waters

This paper deals with determination of selenium and analysis of its speciation in some Italian mineral waters. Selenium was determined by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) even if square wave cathodic stripping voltammetry (SWCSV) was also taken into consideration. The selenium determined in the mineral waters here investigated is not over 600 ng L(-1); in three samples, it was found below the detection limit. Analysis of speciation revealed that Se(VI) is the highly prevailing form present: only two of the examined samples revealed a detectable amount (few ng L(-1)) of Se(IV). DPCSV made possible to detect, in two of the samples, the presence of a specie(s) able to interact with Se(IV). The apparent interaction constant for the adduct formation was evaluated and the species concentration determined. However, the nature of such compound(s) remains unknown.     

Organic and inorganic selenium speciation in environmental and biological samples by nanometer-sized materials packed dual-column separation/preconcentration on-line coupled with ICP-MS

A novel, fast, and cheap nonchromatographic method for direct speciation of dissolved inorganic and organic selenium species in environmental and biological samples was developed by flow injection (FI) dual-column preconcentration/separation on-line coupled with ICP-MS determination. In the developed technique, the first column packed with nanometer-sized Al(2)O(3) could selectively adsorb the inorganic selenium [Se(IV), Se(VI)], and the retained inorganic selenium could be eluted by 0.2 mol l(-1) NaOH, while the organic Se [selenocystine (SeCys(2)) and selenomethionine (Se-Met)] was not retained. On the other hand, the second column packed with mesoporous TiO(2) chemically modified by dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) could selectively adsorb Se(IV) and SeCys(2) and barely adsorb Se(VI) and Se-Met. When the sample solution was passed through the column 1, separation of inorganic selenium and organic selenium could be achieved first. Then, the effluent from column 1 was successively introduced into the column 2 and the speciation of organic selenium could be attained due to the different adsorption behaviors of Se-Met and SeCys(2) on DMSA modified TiO(2). After that, the eluent from column 1 contained Se(IV), and Se(VI) was adjusted to desired pH and injected into column 2, and the speciation of Se(IV) and Se(VI) could also be realized thanks to their different retention on column 2. The parameters affecting the separation were investigated systematically and the optimal separation conditions were established. The detection limits obtained for Se(IV), Se(VI), Se-Met and SeCys(2) were 45-210 ng l(-1) with precisions of 3.6-9.7%. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the speciation of dissolved inorganic and organic selenium in environmental and biological samples. In order to validate the methodology, the developed method was also applied to the speciation of selenium in certified reference material of SELM-1 yeast, and the determined values were in good agreement with the certified values.     

Evaluation of porous graphitic carbon stationary phase for simultaneous preconcentration and separation of organic and inorganic selenium species in "clean" water systems

A high performance liquid chromatography procedure, based on porous graphitic carbon stationary phase, was evaluated for simultaneous on-line preconcentration and separation of organic and inorganic selenium species. Detection was achieved by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with collision/reaction cell (ICP-CRC-MS). Different concentrations of formic acid were tested as mobile phase. A 240 mmol L(-1) concentration with pH adjusted to 2.6, allowed the separation of five species, i.e. selenite, selenate, selenomethionine, selenocystine and selenoethionine. On-line preconcentration of these five species was achieved when heptafluorobutyric acid was used as injection medium, inducing an enrichment of solutes at the top of the column which allowed large volumes (up to 1 mL) to be injected. Combining these injection conditions and 80Se monitoring with ICP-CRC-MS, detection limits between 2 and 8 ng (Se)L(-1), depending on the species, were obtained. Because of the extremely low detection limits obtained, the method was successfully applied to mineral waters.     

Capillary electrophoretic determination of inorganic selenium species

The performance of pyromellitic electrolyte for capillary zone electrophoresis of inorganic selenium species in the presence of selected common anions with indirect UV detection was investigated. The separation was achieved with pyromellitic electrolyte at pH 8.8 and hexamethonium hydroxide as the electroosmotic flow modifier. Obtained detection limits of 0.17 microg ml(-1) for Se(VI) and 0.29 microg ml(-1) for Se(IV) were improved by a factor of 5-7 in comparison with chromate electrolyte, which has been mainly employed for selenium analysis. Good resolution for nitrate-Se(VI) peaks were obtained.     

Determination of total gaseous selenium in atmosphere by honeycomb denuder/differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry

A new analytical method has been developed for the determination of total gaseous selenium in the atmosphere by honeycomb denuder collection followed by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPCSV) measurement. Gaseous selenium was collected in a denuder coating solution containing 2% HNO(3) and 2% glycerine. The soluble product, selenious acid, was then extracted by water for DPCSV analysis. The collection efficiency for gaseous selenium was 99.1% at a flow rate of 1 l min(-1) for 3 h. Excellent linearity in DPCSV was maintained up to Se concentration of 40 ng ml(-1). This was equivalent to a working concentration of 220 ng m(-3) of selenium in the atmosphere. A precision of 1.26% RSD (n=5) for 5 ng Se was obtained, and the detection limit (3sigma) and the quantitative determination limit were estimated to be 0.96 and 3.19 ng m(-3). The average recovery of selenium in three standard samples prepared by independent digestion of NIST SRM 1648 (Urban Particulate Matter) using our analytical system was 99.0%. The total content of gaseous selenium in the atmosphere of our laboratories was 3.2-4.4 ng m(-3).     

Capillary electrophoresis on-line coupled with hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry for speciation analysis of selenium

A new method for speciation analysis of two inorganic selenium species was developed by on-line coupling of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) and on-line conversion of Se(VI) to Se(IV). Baseline separation of Se(VI) and Se(IV) was achieved by CE in a 50 cm x 75 microm inside diameter (ID) fused-silica capillary at -20 kV using a mixture of 15 mmol.L(-1) NaH2PO4 and 0.5 mmol.L(-1) cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (pH 7.5) as electrolyte buffer. Se(VI) was on-line reduced to Se(IV) by mixing the CE effluent with concentrated HCl. The precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, n=7) ranged from 0.7 to 1.3% for migration time, 6.4 to 3.7% for peak height response, and 5.9 to 6.1% for peak area for the two selenium species at the 500 microg.L(-1) (as Se) level. The detection limits were 33 and 25 microg.L(-1) (as Se) for Se(VI) and Se(IV), respectively. The recoveries of the two selenium species in five locally collected water samples ranged from 88 to 114%. The developed method was applied to speciation analysis of inorganic selenium species in spiked natural water samples.     

Spectrofluorimetric kinetic determination of selenium (IV) by flow injection analysis in cationic micellar medium

A sensitive catalytic kinetic spectrofluorimetric method for determining ng ml(-1) of selenium by flow injection analysis has been developed. The method, based on the catalytic effect of Se (IV) on the reduction of resorufin by sulphide, in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride, is monitored spectrofluorimetrically (lambda(ex)=480 nm; lambda(em)=583 nm). The linearity range of the calibration graph is dependent on the concentration of sulphide. The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated. The method is simple, rapid, precise, sensitive, and widely applicable. The limit of detection is 1 ng ml(-1) Se (IV), and the calibration range is 5-1000 ng ml(-1). Sampling rate is 60 samples h(-1), and the relative standard deviation of 12 determinations of 100 ng ml(-1) Se was 0.76%. The determination of Se (IV) in the presence of Se (VI) and total selenium is described. The method was applied to the determination of Se in selenium tablets, and several synthetic samples.     

The gas chromatographic determination of selenium(IV) and total selenium in natural waters with 1,2-diamino-3,5-dibromobenzene

The total selenium and selenium(IV) contents in sea water and river water can be determined directly by a gas chromatographic method with l,2-diamino-3,5-dibromobenzene without preconcentration. The reagent reacts only with selenium(IV) to form a 4,6-dibromopiazselenol; other oxidation states of selenium must therefore be converted to the tetravalent state for total selenium determinations. The piazselenol formed can be extracted quantitatively into 1 ml of toluene from 500 ml of sample water. A method is proposed for the determination of selenium(IV) and total selenium in natural waters at levels as low as 2 ng l^-1. Coastal sea water and river water in Japan contain 8–30 ng of Se(IV) and 20–50 ng of total Se per liter.     

Multielemental speciation of As, Se, Sb and Te by HPLC-ICP-MS

An anion exchange HPLC-ICP-MS procedure allowing the simultaneous multielemental speciation analysis of arsenic, selenium, antimony and tellurium has been developed. Four arsenic species (As^III, As^V, monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid), two selenium species (Se^IV and Se^VI) may be determined in a single run as well as one antimony (Sb^V) and one tellurium species (Te^VI). Alternatively Sb and/or Te may be used as internal standards for As and Se speciation studies. Optimisation of ICP-MS conditions led to satisfactory relative (0.01 (Sb^V) to 1.8 (Se^VI) ng ml⁻¹) and absolute detection limits (1–180 pg). Reproducibility ranged from 3.1 to 5.6% and the linearity was verified in the 0–200 ng ml⁻¹ range.     

On-line focused microwave digestion-hydride generation of inorganic and organic selenium: Total determination and inorganic selenium speciation by atomic absorption spectrometry

An on-line FIA pretreatment with HBr/KBrO₃, assisted by on-line focused microwave-induced digestion, has been coupled with hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS) for final detection for total selenium determination. This total selenium determination is virtually independent of the different Se species investigated (selenite, selenate, selenomethionine, selenoethionine and selenocystine). Detection limits of 0.8 μg l⁻¹ of Se can be achieved by AAS with precisions better than 5%. This continuous flow system for selenium determination allows a high sample throughput (about 30 samples h⁻¹ can be analyzed) in which high automation can be achieved and constitutes a convenient real-time continuous detector for the different selenocompounds tested. Direct non-chromatographic speciation of inorganic selenium (selenite and selenate in their mixtures) is demonstrated by simple on-off operation of the focused microwaves connected in the flow system.

Validation of this simple on-line FIA system has been carried out by analyzing total Se recovered from spiked tap waters and by speciating mixtures of Se(IV) and Se(VI) spiked to the same samples. The fast conversion of Se compounds into volatile selenium could be considered as a sort of specific “general” detector for Se compounds which can be extremely useful for Se speciation by hybrid chromatographic techniques.     

Determination of dialkyldiselenides in water by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as derivatization reagent

The feasibility of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the speciation of traces of dialkyldiselenides in the presence of dialkylselenides and inorganic selenium species is described, and the procedure is applied to environmental samples. The analysis is based on the reaction of dialkyldiselenide species with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene after volatilization of selenium species as alkylselenols using a volatilization and trap device. Parameters affecting the volatilization and derivatization of the selenium compounds are discussed, and the performance of the method is described. The approach reaches detection limits in the order of nanograms (after a preconcentration step) and has been applied to the analysis of dimethyldiselenium and diethyldiselenium in natural waters.     

Selenium speciation analysis at trace level in soils

This paper describes the development of an analytical methodology to determine speciation of selenium present in soils at trace level (μg kg(-1)). The methodology was based on parallel single extractions and high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS). Two complementary chromatographic separations were used to confirm Se species identity. Different extractants, selected on the basis of sequential extraction schemes, were compared. Ultrapure water, 0.1 molL(-1) phosphate buffer (KH(2)PO(4)/K(2)HPO(4)) at pH 7 and 0.1 molL(-1) sodium hydroxide extractants were finally chosen owing to their efficiency in extracting Se and compatibility with Se species stability. These extractants allow also assessing respectively water-soluble Se (i.e. the most mobile Se fraction), exchangeable Se (i.e. sorbed onto soil component surface) and Se bound to soil organic matter. This methodology gives thus information on Se mobility related to its distribution in soil with preservation of original Se speciation. Detection limits range from 3 to 29ng(Se)L(-1) and from 0.1 to 10 μg(Se)kg(-1), allowing determination of Se species concentrations in extracts from soils containing native Se at trace level. The methodology was applied to three soils with total Se concentrations between 210 and 1560 μg(Se)kg(-1).     

Speciation of selenium compounds with ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as element-specific detection

For selenium speciation analysis, the hyphenation of chromatographic separation with element-specific detection has proved a useful technique. A powerful separation system, which is capable of resolving several biologically and environmentally important selenium compounds in a single column, is greatly needed. However, that has been difficult to achieve. In this paper eight selenium compounds, namely, selenite [Se(IV)], selenate [Se(VI)], selenocystine (SeCys), selenourea (SeUr), selenomethionine (SeMet), selenoethionine (SeEt), selenocystamine (SeCM) and trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe+), were separated by using mixed ion-pair reagents containing 2.5 mM sodium 1-butanesulfonate and 8 mM tetramethylammonium hydroxide as a mobile phase. The separation of these anionic, cationic and neutral organic selenium compounds on a LiChrosorb RP18 reversed-phase column took only 18 min at a flow-rate of 1.0 ml/min with isocratic elution, and baseline separation among the six organic Se compounds was achieved. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed as element-specific detection. A comparison of ICP-MS signal intensity obtained with a Barbington-type nebulizer and with an ultrasonic nebulizer (USN) was made. Different signal enhancement factors were observed for the various selenium compounds when a USN was used. The speciation technique was successfully applied to the study on chemical forms of selenium in a selenium nutritional supplement. Selenomethionine was found to be the predominant constituent of selenium in the supplement.     

Nanometer‐sized alumina packed microcolumn solid‐phase extraction combined with field‐amplified sample stacking‐capillary electrophoresis for the speciation analysis of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples

In this paper, a new method of nanometer‐sized alumina packed microcolumn SPE combined with field‐amplified sample stacking (FASS)–CE‐UV detection was developed for the speciation analysis of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples. Self‐synthesized nanometer‐sized alumina was packed in a microcolumn as the SPE adsorbent to retain Se(IV) and Se(VI) simultaneously at pH 6 and the retained inorganic selenium was eluted by concentrated ammonia. The eluent was used for FASS–CE–UV analysis after NH₃ evaporation. The factors affecting the preconcentration of both Se(IV) and Se(VI) by SPE and FASS were studied and the optimal CE separation conditions for Se(IV) and Se(VI) were obtained. Under the optimal conditions, the LODs of 57 ng L^?1 (Se(IV)) and 71 ng L^?1 (Se(VI)) were obtained, respectively. The developed method was validated by the analysis of a certified reference material of GBW(E)080395 environmental water and the determined value was in a good agreement with the certified value. It was also successfully applied to the speciation analysis of inorganic selenium in environmental water samples, including Yangtze River water, spring water, and tap water.     

Selenium speciation in cow milk obtained after supplementation with different selenium forms to the cow feed using liquid chromatography coupled with hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry

The purpose of this paper is to develop an easy and quick on-line selenium speciation method (LC-UV-HG-AFS) in cow milk obtained after different supplementation to cow feed. This study focuses on selenium speciation in cow milk after the use of different selenium species (organic selenium as selenised yeast and inorganic selenium as sodium selenite) in the supplementation of forages. Separation was carried out on a μBondapack C₁₈ column with the positively charged ion-pairing agent tetraethylammonium chloride in the mobile phase. The optimization of pre-reduction conditions was carried out; this step was done with UV irradiation and a heating block to improve the reduction of the different Se-compounds. Variables such as exposure time, hydrochloric acid concentration and temperature were studied. The detection limits for SeCyst₂, Se(IV), SeMet and Se(VI) were 0.4, 0.5, 0.9 and 1.0 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was applied to cow milk samples. The milk samples obtained after an organic supplementation of feeding as selenised yeast present three species of selenium, SeCyst2, Se(IV) and SeMet, while only SeCyst2 and Se(IV) are present in milk samples obtained after an inorganic supplementation of feeding.     

Microwave assisted reduction of Se(VI) to Se(IV) and determination by HG/FI-ICP/MS for inorganic selenium speciation

Speciation of inorganic selenium using hydride generation method is a widespread analytical method nowadays. However, a reduction step of Se(VI) to Se(IV) is necessary as the hydride-forming species is HSeO(3)(-) (oxydation state+IV). This paper describes the development of a batch assisted microwave system allowing a rapid (<5 min) conversion of Se(VI) to Se(IV). Hydride generation is performed by a flow injection system and detection by ICP/MS. Detection limits of 6 and 8 pg for Se(IV) and for Se(VI) (by using a sample loop of 200 mul) respectively have been achieved. This method has been validated by participating in a European certification exercise for inorganic Se speciation in aqueous solutions.     

HPLC-ICP-MS或HPLC-FAAS法分离测定硒化合物（英文）

 提出了一种用高效液相色谱（HPLC）分离和用电感偶合等离子体质谱仪（ICP－MS）或火焰原子吸收光谱仪（FAAS）作元素专一检测器在线测定硒的化学形态的方法。在优化的HPLC条件下,用ESAⅢ阴离子色谱柱（250mm×4．6mm）,以柠檬酸铵为流动相（5．5mmol／L,pH5．5,流速1．5mL／min）,进样量100μL,分离和测定三甲基硒离子、硒代蛋氨酸、亚硒酸和硒酸盐只需8min。HPLC－FAAS在线分析4种硒化合物的检测限为p（Se）=1mg／L。     

Determination of trimethylselenonium iodide, selenomethionine, selenious acid, and selenic acid using high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry or flame atomic absorption spectrometry

An analytical method has been developed for the determination of selenious acid, selenic acid, trimethylselenonium ion, and selenomethionine. The four selenium compounds were separated by HPLC on a column (25 cm×4 mm I.D.) of the anion-exchanger ESA Anion III with a mobile phase (1.5 ml/min) of 0.0055 M ammonium citrate (pH 5.5). Detection was carried out using an on-line inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) or a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) as the selenium-specific detector. The chromatographic parameters and the chemical factors affecting the separation of the selenium species were optimized. The four selenium compounds could be separated within 8 minutes. The detection limits of the coupled HPLC–FAAS system were approximately 1 mg Se/l for each compound (100 μl injection), estimated as three times the base-line noise of the chromatograms. More powerful selenium detection was achieved with an ICP-MS. Selenium was measured at m/z 78. To increase the nebulization efficiency, the Meinhard concentric glass nebulizer was replaced by an ultrasonic nebulizer. The ICP-MS signal intensity was increased with the ultrasonic nebulization by a factor of 7 times for selenious acid and 24 to 31 times for trimethylselenonium ion, selenomethionine, and selenic acid compared to that with the Meinhard nebulization. The detection limits achieved by the HPLC–ICP-MS with the ultrasonic nebulization were 0.08 μg Se/l for trimethylselenonium ion, 0.34 μg Se/l for selenious acid, 0.18 μg Se/l for selenomethionine, and 0.07 μg Se/l for selenic acid, respectively.