Determination of trace elements in foods by HCl-HNO3 leaching and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

Aluminum, iron, tin, zinc, calcium, magnesium, nickel, copper, chromium, cadmium, and potassium in foods can be extracted by HCl-HNO3 leaching and determined quantitatively using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), with recoveries ranging from 90 to 110%. Thirty to 40 samples of almost any type of food sample can be analyzed routinely for 2 elements in 4-5 h. In contrast, one or 2 days are required when a wet-ash or dry-ash technique is used. Extraction consists of weighing 2-10 g samples into 125 mL Erlenmeyer flasks, adding 20 mL concentrated HCl-HNO3 (9 + 1), then heating in a 82- 93 degrees C water bath for 30 min. After cooling, samples are diluted to volume in 50 mL Nessler tubes and then filtered through No. 541 or 540 Whatman paper. The filtrate is analyzed directly by AAS.