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Elemental content of Vietnamese rice. Part 1. Sampling, analysis and comparison with previous studies
T D Phuong1, P V Chuong, D T Khiem
1Centre for Instrumental and Developmental Chemistry, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
The Analyst
|December 22, 1999
Summary
Vietnamese rice generally shows similar elemental concentrations to rice from Australia and other regions. However, Vietnamese rice has higher phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium levels, while Australian rice may be identified by manganese content and low cadmium.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Rice is a global staple food, and its mineral content is crucial for human nutrition and agricultural practices.
- Understanding elemental composition in rice is important for food safety, quality control, and identifying geographical origins.
- Previous studies have analyzed rice for various elements, but regional variations, especially between Vietnam and Australia, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the elemental profiles of rice samples from Vietnam and Australia.
- To identify characteristic elemental markers for Vietnamese and Australian rice.
- To investigate unusual elemental distributions, such as nickel in Vietnamese rice.
Main Methods:
- Collection of rice samples from diverse regions in Vietnam and Yanco, NSW, Australia.
- Analysis of 14 elements (P, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cu, Al, Na, Ni, As, Mo, Cd) using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS).
- Validation of analytical procedures using certified rice flour material (NIES No 10).
Main Results:
- Vietnamese rice samples exhibited generally similar elemental concentration ranges compared to Australian and other international rice.
- Vietnamese rice showed higher concentrations of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) compared to rice from other countries.
- Manganese (Mn) was identified as a potential marker for Australian rice from the Yanco region, which also showed very low cadmium (Cd) levels (< 0.003 mg kg-1).
- An atypical distribution of nickel (Ni) was observed, with higher concentrations in white rice than brown rice for some Vietnamese samples.
Conclusions:
- Elemental analysis confirms general similarities but also highlights distinct characteristics in Vietnamese and Australian rice.
- Specific elements like P, K, Mg, and Mn can serve as indicators for rice origin and type.
- Further research into the factors influencing these elemental variations, particularly the unusual Ni distribution, is warranted.