Application of hanging copper amalgam drop electrode for voltammetric determination of selenium content in fruiting bodies of selected mushrooms

Abstract

A high-sensitivity method based on the CSV with the differential pulse step performed at the hanging copper amalgam drop electrode (HCADE) has been applied for selenium trace determination in selected mushrooms. The HCADE is characterised by simple handling, regeneration facility as well as very good repeatability and reproducibility of the surface. For synthetic solution LOD of Se(IV) as low as 0.25 nM (0.02 μg · kg⁻¹) at preconcentration time (120 s) could be obtained with RSD = 2.3% (n = 5). The accuracy of the method was validated by analysis of certified reference materials (BCR 185R). Fruiting body caps of 12 selected macrofungi species from Basidiomycetes have been investigated. The selenium content determined in the dry matter of mushroom samples was equal to 0.49 ‒ 11.7 mg · kg⁻¹. The highest concentration of selenium was found in Boletus edulis and the lowest one in Laetiporus sulphureus on-plant growing pathogen.

Keywords:

• cathodic stripping voltammetry
• edible mushrooms
• hanging copper amalgam drop electrode
• selenium
• trace analysis

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by The National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) within a framework of LIDER programme (No. LIDER/31/7/L-2/10/NCBiR/2011).