Determination of trace amounts of selenium in minerals and rocks by flemeless atomic-absorption spectrometry

The determination of trace amounts of selenium in silicate rocks and feldspart by solvent extraction and graphite furnace atomic-absorption spectrometry has been studied. Sodium diethyl-ditiocarbamate and ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate have been tried as chelating agents. The best results are achieved when selenium is extracted into carbon tetrachloride as the sodium diethylditiocarbamate complex. The method allows to detect 0,75 ppm of selenium in the sample. Recoveries are about 100%. (author)