Sorption of Se (IV) from aqueous solutions with subsequent determination by X-ray fluorescence analysis

Abstract

An approach to sorptive separation of Se (IV) from solutions on a novel S,N-containing sorbent with subsequent determination of the analyte in the sorbent phase by micro-x-ray fluorescence method is presented. The sorbent copolymethylenesulfide-N-alkyl-methylenamine (CMA) was synthesized using «snake in the cage» procedure and proven to be stable in acid solutions. Conditions for quantitative extraction of Se (IV) were determined: sorption in 5 M HCl or 0.05 M HNO3 solutions when heated to 60°C, phase contact time being 1 h. The residual selenium content in the solution was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) using 82Se isotope. The absence of selenium losses is proved and the mechanism of sorption interaction under specified conditions is proposed. The method of micro-x-ray fluorescence analysis (micro-RFA) with mapping revealed a uniform distribution of selenium on the sorbent surface. The possibility of determining selenium in the sorbent phase by micro-RFA is shown. When comparing the obtained results with the results of calculations by the method of fundamental parameters, it is shown the necessity of using standard samples of sorbates to obtain correct results of RFA determination of selenium in the sorbent phase.