Enhanced digestion of complex cosmetic matrices for analysis of As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb using triton X-100

A suitable optimized digestion method for lipsticks and powders for the analysis of As, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb by Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (HG-AAS), Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (CV-AAS) and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (FAAS) was developed using common acid digestion methods enhanced by the use of Triton X-100. The three acid digestion methods used in this study were Method A (nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide), Method B (nitric acid and hydrochloric acid) and Method C (nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide). Triton X-100 was added to each of these and the effects were studied. The acid digestion method that was determined to be the most suitable and efficient for lipsticks and powders was Method A-1 (nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide with 5% Triton X-100 at 95 °C for 3 h). The range of percentage recoveries obtained were; powders (98.50% to 92. 61%) and lipsticks (100.96% to 99.41%) for As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg and Ni. The addition of Triton X-100 significantly improved the efficiency of the method.•Triton X-100 improves the efficiency of acid digestion of fatty hydrophobic samples by dispersing the sample throughout the acid digestant.