A novel approach to decomposition of foodstuffs for stripping voltammetric determination of lead,cadmium and copper

Samples (ca. 0.3 g) are digested in 10-ml quartz vessels and the same vessel is used for anodic stripping voltammetry. Thus possible contamination during handling and dilution of the decomposed sample solution are avoided. A special design of column placed over the vessel provides digestion under reflux conditions without leakage and a glass cap fitted to another condenser enables the residual mineral acids (especially sulfuric acid) to be boiled out under low pressure conditions. The usual PTFE holder for electrodes and gas tubes is modified to facilitated insertion of the 10-ml vessel underneath. The system was checked on NBS standard reference materials (wheat flour and rice flour) and tested for the determinaton of Cd, Pb and Cu in baby foods. The limits of detection obtained for 3-min decomposition times were 0.3 ng g^?1, 4 ng g^?1 and 8 ng g^?1 for cadmium, lead and copper, respectively. The levels of these elements in various commercial baby foods are given.