Ultrasound-assisted solubilization of trace and minor metals from plant tissue using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in alkaline medium

A simplified and fast sample pretreatment method based on ultrasound-assisted solubilization of metals from plant tissue with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in alkaline medium is described. Powdered unknown and certified plant samples (particle size < 50 μm) were slurried in the solubilization medium and subjected to high intensity ultrasonication by a probe ultrasonic processor (20 kHz, 100 W). Metal solubilization can be accomplished within 3 min using a 30% vibrational amplitude and 0.1 M EDTA at pH 10, the supernatant obtained upon centrifugation being used for analysis. The method is applied to several food plants with unknown metal contents and certified plant samples such as CRM GBW07605 tea leaves, BCR CRM 61 aquatic moss and BCR CRM 482 lichen, with good trueness and precision. Intensive treatments with concentrated acids involving total matrix decomposition can be avoided. Metal determination (Ca, Cd, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in the alkaline extracts was carried out by flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.