Objective To establish an analytical method for the determination of selenium content in beef and offal (beef heart, beef liver, beef lung) using microwave digestion-hydride atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). Methods Based on 2 factors, namely the feeding amount and feeding time of the cattle, 80 simmental bulls weighing around 500 kg (±10 kg) were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups: A, B, C and D. Groups A, B and C served as experimental groups, while group D was the control group, with 20 cattle in each group. Selenium in beef and offal samples was digested using a nitric acid-hydrogen peroxide (HNO₃-H₂O₂) microwave digestion method, with potassium borohydride as the reducing agent and 10% hydrochloric acid as the carrier stream, at a digestion temperature of 190 ℃. Results Selenium exhibited a good linear relationship within the mass concentration range of 0-20 ng/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r)>0.999. The average spike recovery rates (n=3) for samples A, B, C and D were 86.9%, 82.4%, 87.9% and 83.8%, respectively. Conclusion This study provides data support and a reference basis for the determination of selenium content in selenium-enriched cattle products and the development of selenium-enriched functional agriculture.

microwave digestion  /  atomic fluorescence spectrometry  /  selenium  /  beef  /  offal