Flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry of selenium in fish and food products

A method is described for determining selenium in fish tissues, meat, cereals, milk powder, and other materials by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Samples are solubilized in HNO3 and atomized in a graphite furnace in the presence of nickel nitrate. Recoveries of 0.500 and 1.000 microgram selenium added to several fish samples averaged 99.0 and 98.3%, respectively, with standard deviations of 5.3 and 4.0. Results agreed with those obtained for samples previously analyzed by fluorometry, and with results for NBS Standard Reference Material. The detection limit was 3 ng/ml solution and 50 ng/g sample.