Measurement of total selenium and selenium(IV) in seawater by stripping chronopotentiometry

We developed a stripping chronopotentiometric method (constant current stripping analysis, CCSA) with a mercury film electrode for selenium quantification in seawater. A sensitivity and detection limit of 222 ms ng(-1) l and 4 ng l(-1) (50 pM), respectively, were accomplished for a 3-min electrolysis time. Compared to the other chronopotentiometric methods available for a single selenium measurement only in natural waters, our procedure exhibits a ten times better sensitivity. It, therefore, allows one to reach the current concentration thresholds found in coastal and oceanic waters (30-200 ng l(-1)). Moreover, a simple change in operating conditions enables one to also quantify Se(IV), a toxic dissolved species. With respect to the other electrochemical methods of current use, our procedure is beneficial because of its ease-of-use: it needs neither degassing step, nor catalyser.