Comparative characterization of two techniques for selenium(IV) preconcentration on a film mercury electrode with the use of an automated solution replacement system without circuit disconnection

Two versions of selenium(IV) preconcentration and determination on a mercury film electrode (MFE) by cathode stripping voltammetry with an automated solution replacement system without circuit disconnection are compared. In one version, selenium(IV) is preconcentrated together with copper(II); in the other, selenium is preconcentrated on a copper-modified MFE. Under optimum conditions (against the 0.1 M HCl background at selenium electrolysis potentials from ?350 to ?400 mV and electrolysis times of 180–300 s), calibration curves for both selenium preconcentration versions are linear over the concentration ranges from 2.5 to 20 μg/L and from 50 to 250 mg/L. The selenium peak heights are well reproduced in both cases (in the range of the concentrations studied, S _r lie in the range from 0.02 to 0.05). Sequential copper and selenium preconcentration is more convenient: there is no need to add copper to each analyzed solution, and it is possible to optimize selenium preconcentration parameters (solution composition, electrolysis potential, and electrolysis time) regardless of the copper preconcentration parameters.