This method is quantitative for selenium and is based on the wet oxidation of selenium bearing organic carbon and inorganic selenium compounds utilizing nitric, perchloric and sulfuric acids, reduction of selenate to selenite (IV), and determination by Vapor Generation Inductively-Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (VG-ICP). The method has a detection limit of 0.05 ppm.
Sample amount requested: 3 g (for reporting on a 100% dry basis)
Questions concerning limited sample size can be answered by the UC Davis Analytical Laboratory.
Tracy, M. L and Moeller, G. 1990. Continuous flow vapor generation for inductively coupled argon plasma spectrometric analysis. Part 1: Selenium. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem. 73:404-410.
