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Microbial Formation of Volatile Selenium Compounds in Soil¹

ABSTRACT

Selenium was volatilized from soils amended with elemental Se, selenite, selenate, trimethylselenonium chloride, selenomethionine, and selenocystine and incubated in air or anaerobically. The processes were wholly or largely the result of microbial action. The conversion of selenite and selenate to volatile products was enhanced if soil was amended with organic materials. Indigenous soil Se was also volatilized in the presence of supplemental organic matter. The products were identified by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Dimethyl selenide was generated from all Se compounds tested when amended soils were incubated in the presence of air. Under anaerobic conditions, dimethyl selenide was produced from the three organic Se compounds and selenate, and a product tentatively identified as hydrogen selenide (H₂Se) was evolved from soil receiving elemental Se, selenite, selenate, or selenocystine. Dimethyl diselenide was also formed from selenomethionine in soil incubated in air or anaerobically.

¹ Contribution from the Department of Agronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.

² Graduate Research Assistant and Professor of Soil Science, respectively. The senior author's present address is: USDA-ARS, Keim Hall, East Campus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583.

Received for publication January 22, 1976. Accepted for publication May 25, 1976.