The HPLC (anion exchange)-ICP-MS technique was used for the identification (based on retention time of standards) and determination of four selenium species (selenite, selenate, selenomethionine and selenocystine) in plankton (BCR-414), Brazil nuts and urine samples. A recovery of 91% was attained for certified reference materials (BCR-414). Se(IV) was the predominant species in plankton, with the highest selenium concentration in the extract. The Brazil nuts showed only the organic species selenomethionine and selenocystine after water extraction, but after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, only selenomethionine was found as bioaccessible, corresponding to 74% of the total selenium (54.8±4.6 μg g(-1)). Analyses of the urine samples suggested the presence of selenocystine, and significant differences were observed between samples from men and women in terms of the concentration of this species after consumption of Brazil nuts (1 nut per day during 15 days).

This work describes the evaluation of metals and (metallo)proteins in vitreous humor samples and their correlations with some biological aspects in different post-mortem intervals (1-7 days), taking into account both decomposing and non-decomposing bodies. After qualitative evaluation of the samples involving 26 elements, representative metal ions (Fe, Mg and Mo) are determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after using mini-vial decomposition system for sample preparation. A significant trend for Fe is found with post-mortem time for decomposing bodies because of a significant increase of iron concentration when comparing samples from bodies presenting 3 and 7 days post-mortem interval. An important clue to elucidate the role of metals is the coupling of liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for identification of metals linked to proteins, as well as mass spectrometry for the identification of those proteins involved in the post-mortem interval.

A solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) method using an SPME fiber device and graphite furnace (GF) for extracting Se compounds was proposed. Various factors affecting the derivatization and extraction of Se(IV) by SPME-GF were evaluated, including the effect of acid (type and concentration), the concentration of the derivatizing agent, the derivatization temperature, the extraction and derivatization times and the extraction temperature. After optimizing these conditions, the quantification of Se(IV) was performed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The limit of detection was 0.37 μg L(-1) for Se(IV). The method was successfully applied to the total Se determination in certified reference materials (BCR-414 and SRM 1643e). A recovery of 97% was obtained for water (SRM 1643e). After microwave oven decomposition and the reduction of selenium using a mixture of 2 mol L(-1) HCl and 1% (w/v) KBr, a recovery of 101% and a relative standard deviation of 3.5% were attained for plankton (BCR-414). The SPME-GF method combined with GC-MS was also applied to the determination of the total selenium in a drug sample (selenium chelate).

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