This method is quantitative for selenium and is based on the wet oxidation of the sample with nitric, perchloric and sulfuric acids, reduction of selenate to selenite (IV), and determination by vapor generation Inductively-Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES). The method has a detection limit of 0.10 ppm.
Sample should be powdered and should pass a 1 mm sieve.
Sample amount requested: 3 g
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.
