Determination of Selenium by Flow Injection Analysis Based on the Selenium(IV)-Catalyzed Reduction of 3-(4, 5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H Tetrazolium Bromide

Abstract

A novel flow injection method has been developed for the determination of selenium in biological samples. The method is based on a selective catalytic effect of Se(IV) on the reduction of 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The calibration line ranged over 1.3pmol to 1.2nmol of selenite with a detection limit of 0.63pmol. Interference from the copper ion could be eliminated by an on-line adsorption of Cu on an ODS column as a Cu-bathocuproine Bisulfate chelate. The utility of the method was demonstrated by determining the selenium content in a standard sample.