SIMULTANEOUS ANALYSIS OF SELENATE AND SELENITE IN BACTERIAL SUSPENSIONS BY CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

The use of capillary electrophoresis allows simultaneous determination of selenate and selenite during reduction by whole bacteria or their lysates. Optimal separation was achieved with 20 mM sodium borate and 1.0 mM tetradecyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide, pH 9.5, -25 kV, at 28 deg rees C in an open, uncoated 44 cmx75 mu m silica column. This method e liminates many steps in sample preparation and reduces necessary sampl e size. Application of this CE method in studying the depletion of bot h selenate and selenite in bacterial suspensions is reported.