Advantages of hydride generation interface for selenium speciation in waters by high performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupling

This paper focuses on the analytical performance improvement of the coupled technique HPLC–ICPMS using on-line collision/reaction cell technology for selenium elemental and speciation analyses at the ng (Se) l−1 level in aquatic environment. Collision/reaction cell operating parameters were optimised, resulting in selected conditions of 5.5 ml min−1 H2 and 0.5 ml min−1 He mixture. The detection limits obtained were around 5 ng (Se) l−1 for total analysis, and between 7 and 15 ng (Se) l−1 depending on the species for speciation analysis.The capability of UV irradiation-hydride generation interfacing to increase detector sensitivity was also evaluated for speciation analysis. The detection limits obtained were in the range 2–8 ng (Se) l−1 depending on the species. Moreover, such interface allowed to prevent bromine introduction to the ICPMS which is particularly convenient for selenium trace analysis in natural waters as 80Se is preserved free from BrH interferences. The developed method was validated using certified water with low selenium content (TM Rain 95, NWRI, Canada) and applied to the analysis of different waters.