A comparative study on sample preparation procedures for supplementary foods by ICP-OES: Green chemistry considerations

An inductively coupled plasma optical emission (ICP-OES) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of major, minor and trace elements in food. Preliminary studies focused on selecting suitable operational conditions in order to provide the highest sensitivity and to maximize the number of analytes to be determined without spectral or matrix interference. Ruthenium and rhenium were evaluated as internal standards and samples were analyzed at different dilution levels. Furthermore, a comparative study was carried out by using three sample digestion methods, microwave-assisted digestion with HNO3/H2O2, dry ashing and dry ashing with Mg(NO3)2/MgO as an ashing aid. Adequate precisi…

Mineral Profile of Children’s Fast Food Menu Samples

Abstract Children’s fast food menus, including hamburgers served with french fries, dessert, and a soft drink, were analyzed to obtain the mineral profile of trace elements. The developed analytical methodology involved sample digestion under pressure inside a microwave oven with a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The method was validated by carrying out the analysis of certified reference materials (NIST 1570a spinach leaves, NCS ZC73016 chicken, and NIST 1568a rice flour) and using recovery experiments. Repeatability was verified by analyzing replicate samples. Twenty-six elements were studied, 12 of which—aluminum, barium, calcium, co…

Speciation of methylmercury in market seafood by thermal degradation, amalgamation and atomic absorption spectroscopy

Sample thermal decomposition followed by mercury amalgamation and atomic absorption has been employed for the determination of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish. The method involves HBr leaching of MeHg, extraction into toluene, and back-extraction into an aqueous l-cysteine solution. Preliminary studies were focused on the extraction efficiency, losses, contaminations, and species interconversion prevention. The limit of detection was 0.018µgg(-1) (dry weight). The intraday precision for three replicate analysis at a concentration of 4.2µgg(-1) (dry weight) was 3.5 percent, similar to the interday precision according to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The accuracy was guaranteed by the use of for…

Cereals and pulses