Interference of copper, silver and gold in the determination of selenium by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry: an approach to the studies of transition metal interferences

Abstract

An attempt has been made to elucidate the mechanism of liquid-phase interferences caused by Cu^II, Ag^I and Au^III on the evolution of hydrogen selenide. An empirical equation able to describe accurately the interference plots obtained by systematic studies has been found. The equation has also been derived using a physical model for the interferences based on the capture of the hydrogen selenide by the active surface of metal colloid aggregates growing in the solution and having a fractal structure.