DETERMINATION OF SERUM SELENIUM BY HYDRIDE GENERATION FLAME ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

Serum is rapidly digested with a mixture of nitric and perchloric acid s at a temperature of 180 +/- 10 degrees C, and hydrochloric acid is u sed to reduce selenium(VI) to selenium(IV). Selenium is determined by hydride generation flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results s how that this method has the advantages of being sensitive, accurate, rapid and simple. After the serum is digested and diluted, 4.0 mi is t aken for the determination. The characteristic concentration, detectio n limit, variation coefficient, recovery rate and linear range are 2.9 3 mu g l(-1), 1.55 mu g l(-1), 1.6-5.0%, 97.3-99.2% and 0.0-320.0 mu g l(-1) respectively. Serum at 4 degrees C and in frozen state can be p reserved for at least 7 and 14 days, respectively.