Interference from iodide in the determination of trace level selenium

The rate of the reaction between iodide and selenium(IV) at trace levels to form selenium and iodine has been determined in 1-6M hydrochloric acid. The reaction rate increases rapidly with acidity. When hydrochloric acid is added to reduce selenate to selenite prior to the determination of total selenium, some selenium may be lost by reduction to the element if iodide is present. A table of half-lives of the selenite-iodide reaction under various conditions is presented. A method for removal of iodide is suggested.