Determination of aluminum in beverages by automated non-segmented continuous flow analysis with fluorescent detection of the lumogallion complex

A method for the automated determination of aluminum in a variety of beverages is described. The method utilizes lumogallion as a complexing agent in a buffer solution. The system is very similar to flow-injection analysis (FIA), however, the tubing id is larger than that typically used in FIA. Therefore, the system is best described as non-segmented continuous flow analysis using fluorescence spectroscopy detection. The method is extremely simple, requiring virtually no sample preparation and only one reagent. The instrument detection limit for aluminum is 0.012 microgram ml-1 and calibration is linear to 3 micrograms ml-1. Results from a variety of beverage matrices are discussed and compared with the frequently used 8-hydroxyquinolone method utilizing a chloroform extraction and fluorescence spectroscopy detection.