An evaluation of analytical techniques for determination of lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury in food-packaging materials

Closed microwave digestion and a high-pressure asher have been evaluated for wet-oxidation and extraction of lead, cadmium, chromium, and mercury from a range of typical packaging materials used for food products. For the high-pressure asher a combination of nitric and sulfuric acids was efficient for destruction of a range of packaging materials; for polystyrene, however, nitric acid alone was more efficient. For microwave digestion, a reagent containing nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide was used for all materials except polystyrene. Use of the high-pressure asher resulted in the highest recoveries of spiked lead (median 92%), cadmium (median 92%), chromium (median 97%), and mercury (median 83%). All samples were spiked before digestion with 40 μg L^–1 Cd, Cr, and Pb and 8 μg L^–1 Hg in solution. The use of indium as internal standard improved the accuracy of results from both ICP–MS and ICP–AES. Average recovery of the four elements from spiked packaging materials was 92 ± 14% by ICP–MS and 87 ± 15% (except for mercury) by ICP– AES. For mercury analysis by CVAAS, use of tin(II) chloride as reducing agent resulted in considerably better accuracy than use of sodium borohydride reagent.     

Development of new reference materials for the determination of cadmium,chromium, mercury and lead in polycarbonate

Reference materials for quantitative determination of Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb in polycarbonate were developed. Reference materials with two concentration level of elements were prepared by adding appropriate amounts of chemicals to a blank polycarbonate base material. It was shown that ten bottles with triplicate analysis are enough to demonstrate the homogeneity of these candidate reference materials. The statistical results also showed no significant trends in both short-term stability test for four weeks and long-term stability test for twelve months. The certification of the four elements was carried out by isotope-dilution-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS) with microwave-assisted digestion. Certification of candidate reference materials in a single laboratory was confirmed with interlaboratory comparison participated by a certain number of well-recognized testing laboratories in Korea. The certified values and expanded uncertainties (k = 2) for the candidate reference material with low level and the one with high level were (51.7 ± 2.1) mg kg⁻¹ Cd, (103.8 ± 2.9) mg kg⁻¹ Cd, (98.8 ± 4.5) mg kg⁻¹ Cr, (1004 ± 49.8) mg kg⁻¹ Cr, (107.4 ± 4.6) mg kg⁻¹ Hg, (1133 ± 50.7) mg kg⁻¹ Hg, (94.8 ± 3.7) mg kg⁻¹ Pb and (988.4 ± 53.6) mg kg⁻¹ Pb, respectively. The reference materials developed in this study demonstrated their suitability for the quality assurance in Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb analysis for the implementation of RoHS Directive.     

Determination of chromium, cadmium and lead in food-packaging materials by axial inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with a time-of-flight (TOF) analyser was used for the determination of chromium, cadmium and lead in six food-packaging materials (paper and paper board). The samples (0.20-0.25 g) were digested in concentrated nitric acid in a high pressure microwave oven at 180 °C within 15 min. Two different plasma conditions were applied: cool plasma conditions (0.76 kW; 0.85, 0.89 and 15.5 l min⁻¹ nebuliser, auxiliary and plasma gas flow rate, respectively) for the determination of chromium and normal plasma conditions (1.21 kW; 0.66, 0.68 and 13.6 l min⁻¹ nebuliser, auxiliary and plasma gas flow rate, respectively) for the determination of cadmium and lead. External calibration was used in combination with rhodium (40 ng g⁻¹) as an internal standard. The detection limits (DL = 3S.D./sensitivity) under the conditions used corresponded to 0.01 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.06 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.07 ng g⁻¹ (), 0.03 ng g⁻¹ () and 0.02 ng g⁻¹ ( and ). The precision (R.S.D.) for six replicate determinations (10 s integration time) of 1 and 10 ng g⁻¹ of each analyte varied from 0.72% () to 4.43% (). The contents of chromium, cadmium and lead in the examined materials were evaluated using the signals of , and . They were in the range: 0.25-0.50 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, not detected (nd) to 0.12 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.28-0.35 μg g⁻¹ for Pb in paper and 0.50-0.64 μg g⁻¹ for Cr, nd to 0.09 μg g⁻¹ for Cd and 0.67-0.99 μg g⁻¹ for Pb in paper board.     

Enzymatic determination of cadmium,zinc, and lead in plant materials

Prospects are outlined for using the following enzymes (native and immobilized on polyurethane foam) in the rapid and highly sensitive determination of cadmium, zinc, and lead ions in plant materials (wild grass, fresh pea, and grape): horseradish peroxidase and alkaline phosphatases isolated from chicken intestine and Greenland seal small intestine. The analytical ranges of the above metals are 1 × 10^–3?25, 7 × 10^?3?250, and 3 × 10^?2?67 mg/kg dry matter, respectively. The enzymatic determination procedures developed are based on the inhibiting effect of metal ions on the catalytic activity of peroxidase in the oxidation of o-dianisidine with hydrogen peroxide and alkaline phosphatases in the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The rates of enzymatic reactions were monitored spectrophotometrically or visually. In the analysis of plant extracts, their high acidity was diminished by choosing optimum dilution factors and pH values for test samples and the nature and concentration of a buffer solution. The interference of iron(III) was removed by introducing a 0.1 M tartaric acid solution into the indicator reaction. The accuracy of the results of the enzymatic determination of cadmium, zinc, and lead in plant materials was supported by atomic absorption spectrometry and anodic stripping voltammetry.     

Radiochemical determination of mercury,arsenic, cadmium,zinc and copper in biological materials

Extraction procedure for mercury, arsenic, cadmium, copper and zinc in biological materials is proposed. Mercury and copper are extracted with dithizone followed by the separation of mercury with tri-octyl-amine (TOA). Arsenic, cadmium and zinc are extracted as diethyldithiocarbamates. The procedure is applied for the analysis of some reference materials and autopsy human samples of kidneys, liver, heart, spleen and hair.     

能量色散型X射线荧光光谱法测定聚合物材料中镉和铅含量

提出了能量色散型X射线荧光光谱测定聚合物材料中镉和铅的测试分析方法及制样技巧。按照仪器分析条件测定同时含有镉和铅的6块不同浓度级别的标准物质来建立校准工作曲线,其线性范围分别在250ug·g-1、1100ug·g-1以内。镉和铅的方法检出限依次为4.7ug·g-1、4.1ug·g-1。该方法应用于测定欧洲标准物质ERM-EC680和ERM-EC681k,其镉和铅的实际测定值与标准物质证书的标称值相符,测定实际样品中的镉和铅的回收率介于90~110%。该方法测定标准物质和实际样品中镉和铅的精密度均小于10%。     

低压微波消解——ICP-AES法测定聚氯乙烯塑料及其制品中的Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg

采用低压微波消解系统, 以HNO3、HCl、H2O2、HClO4和HF消解样品, 用H3BO3络合过量的F-, 并研究了Cl-对测汞的影响、共存元素的干扰、H3BO3对各元素的影响, 建立了低压微波消解─ICP-AES法测定聚氯乙烯塑料及其制品中Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg的方法. Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg的检出限(3σ)分别为: 0.012、0.002、0.006、0.020 μg/mL, 相对标准偏差为0.5%～4.0%, 回收率为95%～101%. 该方法可推广应用到其它塑料中Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg的测定, 已应用于实际的检测工作.     

Determination of cadmium, lead, iron, nickel and chromium in selected food matrices by plasma spectrometric techniques

In the frame of a study aimed at investigating the transfer of metal contaminants through the food chain and the effects of food processing, five elements, namely Cd, Pb, Fe, Ni and Cr, were accurately determined in (i) durum wheat grain and derived products, (ii) wheat-based reference materials, (iii) drinking water, used both as an ingredient and for technological purposes in the investigated industrial process. Microwave closed vessel digestion was selected as the dissolution technique for solid samples, whereas water samples were acidified with ultrapure nitric acid and analysed directly. As several analytes had to be quantified at trace or ultratrace levels, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was resorted to for analytical determinations. Overall, this straightforward analytical approach enabled to detect the often small changes in element concentration associated with the different technological steps of processing. Nevertheless, detection of heavily interfered elements, especially Cr, as well as analyte quantification at ultratrace-level level in water, posed analytical challenges that required suited analytical solutions.Changes in the sample introduction system and complementary use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) straightforwardly overcame the difficulties in determining the analytes in the selected food matrixes. The benefits of ultrasonic nebulization in reducing the effects of problematic spectral interferences were demonstrated. Overall, a robust and high-throughput analytical method was outlined.     

Computerized potentiometric stripping analysis for the determination of cadmium,lead, copper and zinc in biological materials

Two different types of tinned mussels and a bovine liver reference sample have been analyzed for Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu by means of computerized potentiometric stripping analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples were digested by two different procedures, one employing nitric acid only and the other employing nitric and perchloric acids. It is shown that computerized stripping analysis can be used in samples containing high concentrations of electroactive organic nitro compounds, without sample deoxygenation.     

Radiochemical proton activation analysis for the determination of cadmium and lead in sediment reference materials

Proton activation analysis was used for the determination of cadmium and lead in three sediment reference materials. The method is based on the^111,112Cd(p, xn)¹¹¹ In and the^206,207,208Pb(p, xn)²⁰⁶Bi reactions.¹¹¹In and²⁰⁶Bi were chemically separated by anion exchange. The results obtained were taken into account for the certification of the materials and are in the excellent agreement with the certified values.     

低压微波消解─ICP-AES法测定聚氯乙烯塑料及其制品中的Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg

采用低压微波消解系统,以HNO3、HCl、H2O2、HClO4和HF消解样品,用H3BO3络合过量的F-,并研究了Cl-对测汞的影响、共存元素的干扰、H3BO3对各元素的影响,建立了低压微波消解─ICP-AES法测定聚氯乙烯塑料及其制品中Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg的方法。Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg的检出限(3σ)分别为:0.012、0.002、0.006、0.020μg/mL,相对标准偏差为0.5%~4.0%,回收率为95%~101%。该方法可推广应用到其它塑料中Pb、Cd、Cr和Hg的测定,已应用于实际的检测工作。     

Fluorescent and colorimetric sensors for detection of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions

Exposure to even very low levels of lead, cadmium, and mercury ions is known to cause neurological, reproductive, cardiovascular, and developmental disorders, which are more serious problems for children particularly. Accordingly, great efforts have been devoted to the development of fluorescent and colorimetric sensors, which can selectively detect lead, cadmium, and mercury ions. In this critical review, the fluorescent and colorimetric sensors are classified according to their receptors into several categories, including small molecule based sensors, calixarene based chemosensors, BODIPY based chemosensors, polymer based chemosensors, DNA functionalized sensing systems, protein based sensing systems and nanoparticle based sensing systems (197 references).     

Applications of surface analytical techniques for study of the interactions between mercury and fluorescent lamp materials

Several surface analytical techniques, including electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA)(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and sputtered neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS), were used to study the interaction between Hg and other components of fluorescent lamps, a very critical issue in lighting industries. Active sites, responsible for Hg interaction/deposition, can be successfully identified by comparing the x- y distribution (obtained by ESCA mapping) and depth distribution (available through SNMS) of respective lamp components with that of Hg. A correlation in both depth and x- y distribution is strong evidence of site preference for Hg interaction/deposition. A burial mechanism is, however, proposed when only depth distribution, not x- y, is correlated. Other modes of ESCA (high resolution, angle-resolved, etc.) were also helpful. Information about the valence states of the interacted Hg species would help to define the nature of the interaction.     

The determination of lead,copper and cadmium by anodic stripping voltammetry at a mercury thin-film electrode

The determination of lead, copper and cadmium by anodic stripping voltammetry at a wax-impregnated graphite electrode, pre-plated with mercury, has been investigated. Electrode preparation and cell design are discussed, and the effects of mercury loading and sample pH on electrode sensitivity are described. Detection limits and precision on aqueous samples are reported. Calibration graphs are linear for lead and cadmium, but non-linear for low concentrations of copper. The depression of peak current and shift of peak potential for copper in chloride media are described and an explanation is proposed. Precision and recovery of metal additions are reported for digested samples of whole blood.     

An independent accurate reference method for the determination of chromium in biological materials

A method for the determination of Cr in biological materials with high accuracy is reported for use as an independent reference method. It is based on radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) in combination with an individual yield determination based on the online yield principle. A precision of better than 4% between replicate determinations was achieved by application to biological materials with Cr contents on the 100 g·kg^–1 level. Analytical characteristics of the method offer good perspectives for Cr assays at lower levels.     

Iodnitrotetrazolium chloride-A new analytical reagent for determination of chromium

The extraction of chromium (VI) with iodnitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) was studied spectrophotometrically. The basic spectrophotometric characteristics of the ion associated formed were determined. Using different methods it was found that the ratio between chromium and INT was 1:1. The molar absorptivity of the associate is (250) = (3.70 +/- 0.08) x 10(4) 1.mole(-1).cm(-1). Performing the reaction in acid medium (0.1-1.1M hydrochloric acid) allowed the determination of chromium in the presence of large amounts of W(VI), Mo(VI), Fe(III) and V(V). Hence INT is suggested as a sensitive and selective reagent for extractive-spectrophotometric determination of microquantities of chromium(VI).     

Atomic absorption spectrometric determination of chromium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc in sediments collected in Bayou d'Inde, southwestern Louisiana

The concentrations of the metals chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn) were determined in sediment cores taken from Bayou d'Inde in southwestern Louisiana. Previous studies had reported elevated concentrations of these trace metals in sediments along this waterway. The current study, conducted more than a decade later, was designed to determine if these metals had migrated from the areas of highest concentrations. Concentrations as high as 400 mg/kg for Cr, 1100 mg/kg for Cu, 10 mg/kg for Hg, and 600 mg/kg for Pb and Zn were found. Areas of high concentrations of metals were isolated within a distance of about 1 km from the most highly contaminated areas in the bayou. Low concentrations of metals were found at the mouth of the bayou. Estimated sedimentation rates of 0.67-1.2 cm/yr were based on the burial of the sediments originally studied. The concentrations of the metals studied remained high and were also highly localized, both spatially and temporally.     

Multivariate analytical sensitivity in the determination of selenium, copper, lead and cadmium by stripping voltammetry when using soft calibration

A new approach to the multivariate sensitivity concept based on the determination of the capability of discrimination of a method of analysis is shown. Thus the analytical sensitivity is defined in this work by the analyte concentration that a analytical method is able to discriminate, which implies the estimation of the ‘false noncompliance’ and ‘false compliance’. In this approach the estimation of the multivariate analytical sensitivity is independent of scale factors and calibration models, and allows one to study the behavior of a analytical method for several concentrations and matrix. The estimation of this parameter in the simultaneous determination of selenium, copper, lead and cadmium by stripping voltammetry when using soft calibration is carried out, showing that different multivariate analytical sensitivities are obtained for each metal.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry with the florence mercury film electrode. determination of copper,lead and cadmium in sea water

The use of the rotating glassy carbon electrode mercury plated in situ for anodic stripping voltammetry has been investigated. The choice of electrode material is discussed. The effect of instrumental parameters on the stripping response for copper, lead and cadmium in sea water is studied, the results being in accordance with the theory of thin film electrodes. The variation in the observed sensitivity for the three metals in sea water is discussed in terms of complex-forming ligands. Lastly the performance of the film electrode is compared to that of the hanging mercury drop electrode.     

微波消解-ICP-AES测定食品塑料包装中钛、铅、铬和镉

采用微波消解技术,电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)同时测定食品塑料包装中钛、铅、铬和镉.研究了消解程序和消解试剂,建立了塑料样品的微波消解方法.测定了三种不同的食品包装用塑料,方法回收率为73.3%~101.7%,相对标准偏差为0.3%~10.7%,钛、铅、铬和镉在塑料中的检出限分别为1.50、7.38...