Selenium speciation using HPLC-ICP-MS in selenium-enriched duckweed (Lemna minor)

Complete text of publication follows. The HPLC-ICP-MS for speciation analysis of selenium was developed and applied to selenium enriched duckweed (Lemna minor). The duckweed in Hoagland's E-medium containing Se from sodium selenate in the concentration of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L was cultured. The effect of selenium supplemented concentration and cultured periods (0-8 days) were studied. The results revealed that the optimum concentration of supplemented Se and cultured period were 10 mg/L and 6 days, respectively. The Se-enriched duckweed samples (whole plant) were dried and homogenized. The 0.1 M HCl in 10% methanol extracts were analyzed. Selenium speciation was carried out by ion-pairing HPLC (2.5 mM sodium 1-butanesulfonate, 8 mM tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide and trifluoro acetic acid at pH 4.5). The organic selenium species found in the extract was selenomethylcysteine, selenomethionine and others unknown species. The percentage contributions of selenium in both species of the total selenium were 0.6 and 1.0%, respectively. It can be seen that Se-enriched duckweed can feasibility be a dietary source of Se. The authors would like to thank Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education for financial support.