The determination of selenium in sediments using hydride generation ICP-MS

Abstract Hydride generation ICP-MS was used to determine selenium accurately in digested sediment reference materials. The traditional problems of hydride generation ICP-MS analysis of Se in environmental samples (signal instability and Cl-based interferences), were overcome by the use of a tubular membrane gas liquid separator, in place of the normal ‘U-tube’ separator. Calibration plots for Se show linearity of response at concentrations from 0.01 to 1.0 ng ml −1 . Digested sediment samples were analysed against the calibration plots, giving excellent agreement between measured and reference selenium concentrations.