Evaluation of porous graphitic carbon stationary phase for simultaneous preconcentration and separation of organic and inorganic selenium species in “clean” water systems

A high performance liquid chromatography procedure, based on porous graphitic carbon stationary phase, was evaluated for simultaneous on-line preconcentration and separation of organic and inorganic selenium species. Detection was achieved by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with collision/reaction cell (ICP-CRC-MS). Different concentrations of formic acid were tested as mobile phase. A 240 mmol L−1 concentration with pH adjusted to 2.6, allowed the separation of five species, i.e. selenite, selenate, selenomethionine, selenocystine and selenoethionine. On-line preconcentration of these five species was achieved when heptafluorobutyric acid was used as injection medium, inducing an enrichment of solutes at the top of the column which allowed large volumes (up to 1 mL) to be injected. Combining these injection conditions and 80Se monitoring with ICP-CRC-MS, detection limits between 2 and 8 ng (Se) L−1, depending on the species, were obtained. Because of the extremely low detection limits obtained, the method was successfully applied to mineral waters.