An alkaline dissolution-based method using tetramethylammonium hydroxide for metals determination in cow milk...

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Accurate quantification of essential minerals like calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in milk is crucial for nutritional assessment.
• Existing methods for mineral determination in milk may require complex sample preparation or lack efficiency.
• Development of a streamlined and reliable method for multi-element analysis in milk is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a novel method for determining Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe in liquid and powdered cow milk.
• To validate the method's analytical performance and accuracy for milk sample analysis.
• To utilize ultrasound-assisted dissolution and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for efficient mineral quantification.

Main Methods:

• Sample dissolution assisted by ultrasound energy in tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) media.
• Optimization of dissolution variables using Central Composite Design (CCD) and response surface methodology.
• Determination of Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

Main Results:

• The developed dissolution method effectively prepared milk samples for Ca, Fe, Zn, and Mg determination.
• Optimization using CCD and desirability function ensured fast and efficient dissolution.
• Addition/recovery tests and analysis of a certified reference material (ERM-BD150) confirmed the method's accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The ultrasound-assisted dissolution method in TMAH media is suitable for determining Ca, Mg, Zn, and Fe in cow milk.
• The method demonstrates adequate analytical characteristics and accuracy for routine analysis.
• This approach offers an efficient and reliable technique for mineral profiling in milk products.