Electroanalytical Techniques for the Detection of Selenium as a Biologically and Environmentally Significant Analyte-A Short Review

This short review deals with the properties and significance of the determination of selenium, which is in trace amounts an essential element for animals and humans, but toxic at high concentrations. It may cause oxidative stress in cells, which leads to the chronic disease called selenosis. Several analytical techniques have been developed for its detection, but electroanalytical methods are advantageous due to simple sample preparation, speed of analysis and high sensitivity of measurements, especially in the case of stripping voltammetry very low detection limits even in picomoles per liter can be reached. A variety of working electrodes based on mercury, carbon, silver, platinum and gold materials were applied to the analysis of selenium in various samples. Only selenium in oxidation state + IV is electroactive therefore the most of voltammetric determinations are devoted to it. However, it is possible to detect also other forms of selenium by indirect electrochemistry approach.

Automated summary

Selenium, an essential trace element for animals and humans, can be toxic at high concentrations leading to selenosis. Electroanalytical methods, especially stripping voltammetry, are advantageous for selenium detection with very low detection limits. Working electrodes based on different materials have been applied for selenium analysis.