title: Photochemical alkylation of inorganic selenium in the presence of low molecular weight organic acids.
abstract: Using a flow-through photochemical reactor and a low pressure mercury lamp as a UV source, alkyl selenium species are formed from inorganic selenium(IV) in the presence of low molecular weight organic acids (LMW acids). The volatile alkyl Se species were cryogenically trapped and identified by GC-MS and GC-ICP-MS. In the presence of formic, acetic, propionic and malonic acids, inorganic selenium(IV) is converted by UV irradiation to volatile selenium hydride and carbonyl, dimethylselenide and diethylselenide, respectively. Se(IV) was successfully removed from contaminated agricultural drainage waters (California, U.S.A.) using a batch photoreactor system Se. Photochemical alkylation may thus offer a promising means of converting toxic selenium salts, present in contaminated water, to less toxic dimethylselenide. The LMW acids and photochemical alkylation process may also be key to understanding the source of atmospheric selenium and are likely involved in its mobility in the natural anaerobic environment.
authors.affiliation: Institute for National Measurement Standards, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R9.
authors.forename: Xuming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ralph E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sturgeon
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mester
authors.forename: Graeme J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D000393:Air Pollutants; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010777:Photochemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D000393:Air Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012643:Selenium