title: Qualitative detection of selenium in fortified soil and water samples by a paper chromatographic-carboxyl esterase enzyme inhibition technique.
abstract: Thevetia peruviana seed carboxyl esterase was employed as a biosensor for the detection of selenium compounds by an enzyme inhibition technique on paper chromatograms. The selenium compounds (sodium selenite and selenium dioxide) appeared as white spots on a magenta background due to the inhibition of Thevetia peruviana seed carboxyl esterase (substrate 1-naphthyl acetate, coupling reagent Fast blue B salt). The minimum detectable amounts were about 5 microg of sodium selenite and 5 microg of selenium dioxide. Many other animal and plant carboxyl esterases gave no inhibition spot under the same conditions. Soil and water samples were fortified with sodium selenite and selenium dioxide. A procedure for preparing test solutions and conditions for paper chromatography was established.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Biology, Department of Zoology, S.V. University, Tirupati, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saritha
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Nanda Kumar
mesh_terms: D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000201:enzymology; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002854:Chromatography, Paper / Q000379:methods*; D012639:Seeds / Q000201:enzymology; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D014867:Water; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D043182:Carboxylesterase; D012643:Selenium