Determination of54Mn in foods

⁵⁴Mn is analyzed in complex food ash of high cationic environment. The initial step is an extraction atpH 2.7 with hexane containing di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (HDEHP) to complex the⁵⁴Mn and other nuclides. The manganese is reextracted into an alkaline EDTA buffer which is washed with 1% 8-hydroxyquinoline in chloroform containing 5% isoamyl alcohol. The⁵⁴Mn is determined by gamma spectrometry with recoveries ranging from 96.6 to 99.4%.