Determination of trace elements in olive oil by ICP-AES and ETA-AAS: A pilot study on the geographical characterization

The determination of trace elements in edible oils is important because of both the metabolic role of metals and possibilities for adulteration detection and oil characterization.The most commonly used techniques for the determination of metals in oil samples are inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). For this study, a microwave assisted decomposition of the olive oil in closed vessels using a mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was applied as sample preparation.The low achievable LODs enable the determination by ICP-AES of even very low concentrations of most elements of interest. The proposed ICP-AES method permits the determination of Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn in olive oils. Elements present in small amounts (Al, Co, Cu, K, Mn, Ni) were measured by ETA-AAS in the same sample digest. The concentrations of Al, Co, Cu, K, Mn, and Ni were in the range from 0.15 to 1.5 μg/g and differ according to the geographical origin of the oils. For the amounts of Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn in the samples, no significant differences according to the geographical origin of the oils could be observed, the mean concentrations being 15.31, 3.26, 33.10, and 3.39 μg/g, respectively. The Ca content varies in the range of 1.3 to 9.0 μg/g.The dependency of the trace elemental content of olive oils on their geographical origin can be used for their local characterization.     

Recent developments in assessment of bio-accessible trace metal fractions in airborne particulate matter: A review

In the last years a great deal of research has been focused on the determination of harmful trace metals such as Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni or Pb in airborne particulate matter (APM). However, the commonly applied determination of total element concentrations in APM provides only an upper-end estimate of potential metal toxicity. For improved risk assessment it is important to determine bio-accessible concentrations instead of total metal contents. The present review gives an overview of analytical procedures reported for measurement of bio-accessible trace metal fractions in APM. The different approaches developed for extraction of soluble trace metals in APM are summarized. Furthermore the analytical techniques applied for accurate determination of dissolved trace metals in the presence of complex sample matrix are presented. Finally a compilation of published results for bio-accessible trace metals in APM is included.     

Determination of metal concentration in fat supplements for swine nutrition by atomic absorption spectroscopy

The presence of some essential and toxic metals in fat supplements for swine diet was investigated. Collected samples represented a relevant production of the Italian industry. In particular, some samples were enriched with antioxidants or waste cooking oils. The method for the determination of Ca, Cu, Cd, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in fat samples was developed by means of a certified reference material (CRM 186) and a representative fatty sample (RFS). All samples were digested in closed vessels in a microwave oven and then analyzed by flame atomic absorption or graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The entire analytical method provided a satisfactory repeatability and reproducibility confirmed by agreement between the experimental recovery data obtained for the CRM 186 sample and, with the method of standard additions, for the RFS material. The samples generally showed a small amount of metals compared with the recommended daily intake for the essential elements. On the other hand, some samples contained a significant concentration, from an analytical point of view, of Cd, Ni, and Pb. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to inspect the experimental data obtained from samples analysis. Basically no differences were detected in terms of metal concentration among the fat supplements analyzed.     

Determination of Heavy Metal Content in Vegetables and Oils From Spain and Morocco by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

An optimized inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method was used to analyze trace metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Sn) in vegetable and oil samples. Prior to analysis, the samples were accurately weighed into a Teflon digestion vessel and the metals extracted from their matrix by using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a closed-vessel digestion system. The proposed method is sensitive, with limits of detection between 5 and 38 ng/kg, and precise, with relative standard deviations from 2.8 to 6.1%. In order to verify its accuracy, the method was used to analyze the Standard Reference Materials NCS ZC85006 Tomato and Certified Used Oil HU-1. The method was successfully applied to the comparative determination of residues of the studied metals in vegetable (tomato, pepper, onion, spinach, lettuce, carrots, and marrow squash) and oil samples (virgin olive, maize, sunflower, and olive pomace) from Spain and Morocco. The results obtained revealed that the contents in metal residues depend on the particular type of food and its origin, probably due to the different production, processing, storage, and preservation methods.     

Simultaneous determination of traces in solid samples with laser-AAS

Microamounts of solid samples are vaporized by focused laser radiation (Q-switch ruby). The solid aerosol is transported in an Ar gas stream to a hot graphite tube. The determination of trace metals is made by flameless AAS.A dual channel AA spectrometer is used for the investigation of the reproducibility of the absorbance values in indirect laser AAS. The simultaneous determination of Ag-Mn an Pb-Ag in copper standard metals and in pellets of organic powders show that the inhomogeneity of the materials and differences in the material vaporization by the laser light influence the analytical results.The results of the simultaneous determination of Ag, Al, Mn, Ni. and Pb in different solid samples are compared mutually and with the results of flameless AAS determinations of solutions.     

Trace elemental characterization of edible oils by ICP-AES and GFAAS

A method for the determination of the inorganic profile in edible oils is proposed. The quantification of selected metals in various oils (olive, pumpkin seed, sunflower, sesame seed, hazelnut, grape, soya, rice oil) was carried out using microwave assisted digestion followed by ICP-AES and GFAAS. The detection power of the ICP-AES technique was sufficient for the determination of Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, and Zn. Since the samples contained very low amounts of Al, Cu, Co, Cr, K, Ni, Mn, and Pb, these elements were measured by GFAAS. Differences of metal concentrations for edible oils obtained in this preliminary study represent a starting basis for the development of an additional analytical procedure applicable for oil characterization.     

Ultrasound-assisted treatment of palm oil samples for the determination of copper and lead by stripping chronopotentiometry

The concentration of trace metals in vegetable oils is an important criterion for the assessment of oil qualities with regard to freshness, keeping properties, storage and their influence on human nutrition and health. In this work, an effective and simple method for the determination of copper and lead in palm oil by stripping chronopotentiometry (SCP) is proposed. The metal ions were concentrated as their amalgams on the glassy carbon surface of a working electrode that was coated with a thin mercury film. An ultrasonic bath was used for the extraction of copper and lead from eleven oil samples using a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Efficient extraction of copper and lead (∼ 100%) was attained after 60 min of ultrasonic pre-treatment. A good correlation between the amount of sample and the time necessary for complete liberation of the metals was observed. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by means of a reference sample of skim milk powder containing trace elements (BCR 151). Quantitative analysis was carried out by the method of standard additions. Good linearity was obtained in the range of the concentrations examined. Detection limits of 13 and 50 ng g^− 1 were found for Cu and Pb, respectively, in the palm oil samples. The average values found for the palm oil samples analyzed were in the range of < 0.013-2.67 µg g^− 1 for copper and < 0.050-1.82 µg g^− 1 for lead. The palm oil samples were also analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS), demonstrating a very good correlation between the results.     

Trace analysis of metals in plant samples with inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry

An analytical method for the quantitative determination of Al, Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, Ti and Pb in plant samples by ICP-MS has been developed. Spectral interferences, plant matrix effects, precision and accuracy are discussed. Results are demonstrated for selected samples concerned with the mass balance of heavy metals after utilization of non-food vegetable materials in a power plant. Received: 7 January 1997 / Revised: 2 June 1997 / Accepted: 18 June 1997     

Simultaneous on-line preconcentration and determination of trace metals in environmental samples by flow injection combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a nanometer-sized alumina packed micro-column

A flow injection (FI) on-line preconcentration procedure by using a nanometer-sized alumina packed micro-column coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was described for simultaneous determination of trace metals (V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in the environmental samples. The effects of pH value, sample flow rate, preconcentration time, and interfering ions on the preconcentration of analytes have been investigated. Under the optimized operating conditions, the adsorption capacity of the nanometer-sized alumina for V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were found to be 11.7, 13.6, 15.7, 9.5, 12.2, 13.3, 17.1, 17.7 and 17.5 mg g⁻¹, respectively. With 60 s preconcentration time and 60 s elution time, an enrichment factor of 5 and the sampling frequency of 15 h⁻¹ were obtained. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of trace metals in environmental certified reference materials and natural water samples with satisfactory results.     

Sorption of trace metals on human hair and application for cadmium and lead pre-concentration with flame atomic absorption determination

Human hair shavings were characterized as a sorbent for trace metals. At pH 7.0 metal sorption follows the order Pb(II)>Cd(II)>Cr(VI)>Fe(III)>Cu(II)>Ni(II)>Mn(VI). Metal recovery is quantitative for Pb and Cd after 30 min of equilibration. Recovery of other metals is less quantitative and varies with pH. For example, while Cu is best recovered at pH 5, Ni and Mn are sorbed optimally in the basic pH region. Sorbed metals can be washed off the sorbent with 0.5 mol L(-1) strong mineral acids or more completely with 0.1 mol L(-1) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Typical sorption isotherms were obtained for Cd and Pb with sorption capacities of 39 and 26 micromol g(-1), respectively.Hair sorbent was used for 40-fold pre-concentration of Cd and Pb from treated wastewater samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopic (FAAS) determination. Comparison of the data obtained for lead and cadmium by the proposed pre-concentration method with that by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) showed 79 to 86% recovery and comparable analytical precision. Common cations and anions at the levels normally present in natural water do not interfere in the proposed pre-concentration-FAAS method.     

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for Sequential Determination of Trace Metals in Rain and River Waters Using Electrothermal Vaporization

Abstract

The sequential determination of 14 trace metals, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Sb and Pb, in rain and river water samples has been investigated using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a graphite rod electrothermal vaporizer (ETV) in the presence of the mixed modifier of palladium nitrate and magnesium nitrate. The sensitivity enhancements due to the presence of the modifier were observed for all analyte elements. Detection limits as high as 0.52, 0.13, 0.89, 0.35, 1.76, 0.5, 0.9, 0.5, 0.04, 1.03, 0.28, 0.07, 0.1 and 3.78 pg, respectively, for Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Sb and Pb have been achieved. For the determination of trace metals in both rain and river water samples by this method, the repeatibility of sample solution were very good, i.e. from 1% to 7% (as a coefficient variation) and the recoveries of elements were good enough, i.e. from 81% to 106%, by using a standard addition method. There was no difference between the results obtained by nebulizer ICP-MS and those obtained by this method, except for zinc and arsenic.     

Determination of trace metals in natural waters at nanogram per liter levesls by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after extraction with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate

The determination of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb) at concentrations found in fresh and sea waters is described. The metals are extracted as diethyldithiocarbamates from 500-ml samples into carbon tetrachloride, the extracts are evaporated to dryness and the residues are mineralized with 0.1 ml of concentrated nitric acid. This solution is used for graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after appropriate dilution. The detection limits are 10 pg Cd, 150 pg Co, 125 pg Cu, 100 pg Fe, 250 pg Ni and 100 pg Pb. The extraction/mineralization method is almost free from interferences, e.g., from trace elements at 500-fold and Na, K, Ca and Mg at million-fold amounts. The procedure is successfully applied to the determination of the above metals in deionized water, and river and sea waters.     

Statistical design-principal component analysis optimization of a multiple response procedure using cloud point extraction and simultaneous determination of metals by ICP OES

A procedure has been developed for the simultaneous determination of traces amounts of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb from saline oil-refinery effluents and digested vegetable samples using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). The procedure is based on cloud point extraction (CPE) of these metals as 2-(bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethyl-amino-phenol (Br-PADAP) complexes into a micellar phase of octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (Triton X-114). Optimization of the procedure was performed by response surface methodology (RSM) using a Doehlert design. Principal components (PC) were used to simplify the multiple response analysis. A response surface for the first PC score is useful in determining the optimum conditions for the Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Pb determinations whereas the second PC is highly correlated with the Ni response. Improvement factors of 22, 36, 46, 25, 65 and 39, along with limits of detection (3σ_B) of 0.081, 0.79, 0.38, 0.83, 0.28 and 0.69 μg L⁻¹, and precision expressed as relative standard deviation (%R.S.D., n = 8, 20.0 μg L⁻¹) of 1.5, 2.2, 3.5, 2.6, 2.5 and 2.5 were achieved for Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb, respectively. The accuracy was evaluated by spike tests in oil-refinery effluent samples and analysis of a vegetable certified reference material (NIST 1571, orchard leaves). Results found were in agreement with certified values.     

Collection of trace metals with cationic surfactant-silica particles followed by flotation with an anionic surfactant for seawater analysis

The analysis of seawater for trace metals is important for pollution monitoring and better understanding of marine systems. The present paper describes an efficient preconcentration method for the determination of trace metals in seawater. Trace metals [Ni(II), Cu(II), Ga(III), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Bi(III)] in 1,000 mL of seawater sample were complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and sorbed onto silica particles covered with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride. After the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the particles were floated to the solution surface by bubbling and then collected by suction. The trace metals were desorbed with dilute nitric acid and determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The rapid 200-fold preconcentration was demonstrated with certified seawater samples.     

Analytical quality control program used by the trace elements in foods and diets sub-network of the FAO European cooperative network on trace elements

Summary The analytical quality control program employed by the ongoing FAO study on 14 trace elements in nationally representative staple foods of European countries is presented. The analytical quality control used is based on: 1) precautions taken to avoid trace element contaminations or losses during sampling and sample handling; and, 2) on methods used to guarantee that the actual determinations yield correct results. The precautions are presented. A number of certified biological reference materials (RMs) were used to validate the analytical methods employed. The following staple food RMs were also prepared: wheat flour, potato powder, animal muscle (pork) and milk powder. They were tested for homogeneity and subjected to an interlaboratory comparison study on the basis of which recommended values for trace element concentrations were defined. Further, the mean relative standard deviation for the 95% confidence limits of the medians in all RMs was below 5% for Ca, Mg and Zn; below 10% for Mn; below 15% for Fe, Cu and Se; and below 25% for Mo and Ni. These RMs were used to control the analytical quality of the trace element determinations in the actual samples. It is concluded that important contaminations were avoided in sampling and sample handling and that use of the RMs described was necessary to guarantee the analytical quality of the results.     

Determination of Cu, Mn, Ni and Sn in gasoline by electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and emulsion sample introduction

Trace metals in fuels, except in the case of additives, are usually undesirable and normally they occur in very low concentrations in gasoline, requiring sensitive techniques for their determination. Coupling of electrothermal vaporization with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry minimizes the problems related to the introduction of organic solvents into the plasma. Furthermore, sample preparation as oil-in-water emulsions reduces problems related to gasoline analysis. In this work, a method for determination of Cu, Mn, Ni and Sn in gasoline is proposed. Samples were prepared by forming a 10-fold diluted emulsion with a surfactant (Triton X-100), after treatment with concentrated HNO₃. The sample emulsion was pre-concentrated in the graphite tube by repeated pipetting and drying. External calibration was used with aqueous standards in a purified gasoline emulsion. Six samples from different gas stations were analyzed, and the analyte concentrations were found to be in the μg l⁻¹ range or below. The limits of detection were 0.22, 0.02, 0.38 and 0.03 μg l⁻¹ for Cu, Mn, Ni and Sn, respectively. The accuracy of the method was estimated using a recovery test.     

Determination of Cadmium,Copper, Lead,and Zinc in Pilchard Sardines from the Bay of Boumerdés by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Fish are an important human food with increasing consumption in recent decades. Diet is the main route of exposure to heavy metals for human health. For this reason, many studies have been performed on the pollution by heavy metals in different species of fish. Our main objective was to evaluate the pollution by trace metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) in sardine muscles collected from the bay of Boumerdés (Algeria). Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used for the quantification of Cu and Zn. The quantification of Cd and Pb was achieved by graphite furnace (GF) AAS. The analysis revealed the presence of metal trace elements in the muscles of species at concentrations below the thresholds established by national and international regulations.     

Trace elements content in size-classified volcanic ashes as determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

At present there is an increasing concern as regards the release of potentially toxic metals into the environment. Volcanic eruptions are a natural source of metals and metalloids in the atmosphere. Toxic trace elements ejected during an eruptive episode may produce hazardous effects for people and the environment in areas close to the volcano. In this context, a study was undertaken to investigate the concentration of metal and metalloids in ashes ejected from Copahue volcano, Neuquén, Argentina. Two samples (A and B) of deposited particles were collected one day after the first eruption and size-fractionated in four sub-samples (S1, S2, S3 and S4). Analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the accuracy for the entire analytical procedure was performed by means of the certified reference material CRM GBW 07105 Rocks (NRCCRM, China). The elements considered were: As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, U, V and Zn. The adverse effect of potentially interfering species on the mass-spectrometric determination of these elements was also taken into account. The concentration intervals found in the four fractions are as follows (in μg g⁻¹): As, 6.0-2.6; Cd, 0.71-0.36; Cr, 29.5-54.0; Cu, 132-49.0; Hg, 0.020-0.007; Ni, 36.0-26.0; Pb, 15.5-2.55; Sb, 1.07-0.30; U, 2.57-1.94; V, 152-106; Zn, 85.5-55.0. The elements with the highest concentrations were: Cu, V and Zn. All fractions, in both samples, were found to be enriched in some toxic trace elements in the following order Sb>Cd>As. On the contrary, samples were depleted in Ni, Cr and Hg. Lead was the element that exhibits a noticeable difference in concentration between the finer and coarser fractions.     

Determination of impurities in high-purity niobium(V) oxide by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after sorption preconcentration

Method of sorption–atomic-absorption determination of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni in samples of high-purity Nb₂O₅ with heterochain S,N-containing sorbents was developed. The method is based on the sorption preconcentration of trace impurities followed by their determination by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR CS GFAAS). Selectivity of three original inhouse synthesized S,N-containing heterochain sorbents was studied. The recoveries of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni using heterochain sorbents OKS, MTH, and GLSH were 100, 80, and 76%, correspondingly. Sorbent “OKS”, which provided the quantitative recovery of trace impurities, was chosen for further research. The sorption conditions for chloride solutions of different acidities (0.1–3 M HCl) were studied and optimized. Using the conditions established for the sorption and HR CS GFAAS analysis, trace Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni were determined in high purity Nb₂O₅ with a relative error less than 5%. The trueness control of the obtained results is confirmed by the “added–found” method. The developed method allows us to determine concentrations of analytes: 0.02–0.20 ppm Co, 2.0–3.3 ppm Cr, 0.2–1.5 ppm Cu, 6.0–21.0 ppm Fe, 0.6–0.8 ppm Mn, and 2.8–3.5 ppm Ni. The proposed methodology can be successfully extended to the determination of various trace elements in other high-purity inorganic materials.     

Validation of an analytical method to determine trace metal impurities in fluoride compounds by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

 The development of an analytical method for the determination of some heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Co, Zn and Ni) in fluoride compounds [Cu(BF₄)₂, Sn(BF₄)₂, Pb(BF₄)₂ and HBF₄] by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy is described. This method is to be used as a routine analytical method in an industrial quality control laboratory. To this end the "performance characteristics" of an instrumental analytical method such as matrix effects, sensitivity, linearity, detection and quantitation limits, precision and accuracy were evaluated for every system under study. The results of these investigations showed that non-spectral interferences (due to the presence of large concentrations of major metals such as Cu, Sn and Pb) were observed. Nevertheless it was possible to define a matrix concentration interval where matrix effects were not statistically significant, and therefore a direct calibration approach could be used as the calibration tool whenever the major metal concentration was not higher than 40×10^–3 kg l^–1. A guide to the developement of an analytical method for trace metal determination is provided. General tools for quality control have been used in order to show how an analytical method can be tested daily and evaluated in a convenient manner. Received: 29 January 1997 Accepted: 11 March 1997