Microdiffusion and fluoride-specific electrode determination of fluoride in foods

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Accurate fluoride determination is crucial for food safety and quality control.
• Existing methods for fluoride analysis in food can be complex or time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, accurate, and reliable method for routine fluoride determination in various food matrices.
• To validate the developed method using standard reference materials and spiked samples.

Main Methods:

• A diffusion technique was employed, transferring hydrogen fluoride from food samples to an absorbent layer.
• Fluoride was measured potentiometrically using a fluoride-ion selective electrode.
• The method was optimized for small sample sizes (0.1 g dry weight) and validated against standard reference materials and colorimetric methods.

Main Results:

• The method demonstrated high recovery rates (average 99%) from spiked infant foods.
• Relative standard deviations ranged from 4% to 20%, indicating good day-to-day precision.
• The detection limit was below 0.05 microgram/g dry weight, ensuring sensitivity for trace analysis.

Conclusions:

• The developed potentiometric method offers a simple and accurate approach for routine fluoride analysis in foods.
• This method is suitable for diverse food types, including infant foods, and provides reliable results.
• The technique's sensitivity and precision make it valuable for food safety monitoring and nutritional assessment.