SELENIUM ANALYSIS: A REVIEW

Abstract

Selenium is an essential microelement for the proper functioning of the human body. It is involved in many metabolic functions and processes having mainly an antioxidant role. it participates in the regulation of the immune system, nervous system, endocrinological system and reproductive system. However, excess selenium has toxic effects. Therefore a proper diet is required, which involves from one side knowing the concentration of selenium in food and from the other side quantifying selenium in biological samples in order to intervene in case of deficiency or intoxication. Over time, a number of analytical methods have been developed: spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, atomic spectrometry, electroanalytical methods, neutron activation methods, x-ray methods, chromatographic methods and plasma spectroscopy methods.