homogenization and acid digestion of food samples for multi-elemental determination

Food Sample Homogenization and Digestion for Multi-Element Analysis

Elemental analysis is an analytical process for determining the elemental composition of various samples. It can be used to control the intake of metals into human bodies (especially heavy metals1) since their high concentrations may cause unwanted health problems. Heavy metals are also one of the main environmental contaminants, therefore, control of their presence in the environment is necessary2. Moreover, elemental analysis can be employed to determine the geographical origin of food products3 and to control the quality of food and water resources4. In addition, it is used for the determination of micro- and macronutrients in soils5 and to gain insights into geological processes throughout history by examining the chemical composition of minerals and sediments6. Studies have also been made to determine the presence of rare metals in electrical and electronic waste for further metal regeneration7, to evaluate the success of drug treatments8, and to verify the elemental composition of metal implants9.
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) are commonly used techniques for the elemental analysis of various samples10. They allow simultaneous determination of multiple elements with limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) as low as ng/L. In general, ICP-MS has lower LOD values11 and a wider linear concentration range compared to ICP-OES12. Other techniques to determine elemental composition are microwave-induced plasma optical emission spectrometry13 and several variants of atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), including flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy2, cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy, and hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy14. Furthermore, elemental determination with low LOD and LOQ is possible with different electroanalytical methods, especially with anodic stripping voltammetry15,16. Of course, there are other methods to determine the elemental composition of samples, but they are not as frequently employed as the above-mentioned methods.
Direct elemental determination of solid samples is feasible using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence17. However, for elemental determination with ICP-MS, ICP-OES, and AAS it is necessary to convert solid samples into a liquid state. For this purpose, acid digestion is performed using acids and auxiliary reagents (in most cases H2O2). Acid digestion is carried out at elevated temperature and pressure, converting the organic part of the sample into gaseous products and converting the metal elements into water-soluble salts, thus dissolving them in the solution18.
There are two main types of acid digestion, open vessel digestion and closed vessel digestion. Open vessel digestion is cost-effective14 but has limitations, such as the maximum digestion temperature, which coincides with the boiling temperature of acids at atmospheric pressure. The sample can be heated on hot plates, heating blocks, water baths, sands baths2, and by microwaves19. By heating the sample in that manner, much of the generated heat is lost to the surroundings20, which extends the digestion time14. Other disadvantages of open vessel digestion include greater chemical consumption, the greater possibility of contamination from the surrounding environment, and possible loss of analytes due to the formation of volatile components and their evaporation from the reaction mixture21.
Closed vessel systems are more convenient for the digestion of organic and inorganic samples compared to open vessel systems. Closed vessel systems utilize a variety of energy sources to heat the samples, such as conduction heating and microwaves22. Digestion methods which use microwaves include microwave-induced combustion23, single reaction chamber systems24, and commonly used microwave-assisted wet acid digestion (MAWD)25,26. MAWD allows digestion at higher operating temperatures, ranging between 220 &#176;C and 260 &#176;C and maximum pressures up to 200 bar, depending on the instrument&#39;s working conditions27.
The efficiency and rate of MAWD depend on several factors, including the chemical composition of the samples, the maximum temperature, the temperature gradient, the pressure in the reaction vessel, the amount of acids added, and the concentration of acids used28. In MAWD, complete acid digestion can be achieved in a few minutes due to the elevated reaction conditions compared to longer-lasting digestions in open vessel systems. Lower volumes and concentrations of acids are required in MAWD, which is in line with current green chemistry guidelines29. In MAWD, a smaller amount of sample compared to open vessel digestion is needed to perform acid digestion, usually up to 500 mg of sample is sufficient30,31,32. Larger sample quantities may be digested, but they require a larger amount of chemicals.
Since the instrument for MAWD automatically controls the reaction conditions and the person does not come in direct contact with the chemicals during heating, MAWD is safer to operate than open vessel digestions. However, the person should always proceed with caution when adding chemicals to the reaction vessels to prevent them from coming into contact with the body and causing harm. Reaction vessels also need to be opened slowly as the pressure is built up inside them during acid digestion.
Although acid digestion is a useful technique for preparing samples for elemental determination, the person performing it should be aware of its possible limitations. Acid digestion may not be suitable for all samples, especially those with complex matrices and those that are highly reactive or could react explosively. Therefore, sample composition should always be evaluated to select the appropriate chemicals and reaction conditions for complete digestion that dissolves all desired elements in the solution. Other concerns that the user must consider, and address are impurities and loss of analytes at every step of sample preparation. Acid digestion must always be performed according to specific rules or using protocols.
The protocol described below provides instructions for the homogenization of food samples in a laboratory-sized mixer, a procedure for cleaning the mixer&#39;s components, properly weighing the sample, adding chemicals, performing acid digestion by MAWD, cleaning the reaction vessels after the digestion is complete, preparing the samples for elemental determination, and performing a quantitative multi-element determination with ICP-MS. By following the instructions given below, one should be able to prepare a sample suitable for elemental determination and perform the measurements of digested samples.

Author Spotlight: Technologies and Challenges in Elemental Analysis of Food Samples

Preparation of Food Samples Using Homogenization and Microwave-Assisted Wet Acid Digestion for Multi-Element Determination with ICP-MS

Our research aims to determine the elemental composition of different food samples using different spectroscopic devices to, for example, control the quality of food samples. Besides ICP-MS, our laboratory can also perform elemental analysis of the digested food samples with ICP-OES, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and ion chromatography. However, we can also perform elemental analysis with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.Current experimental challenges that we face are mostly in the sample preparation process. Our goal is to improve the sample throughput and to optimize the cleaning procedure to minimize any carryover of the sample. The information in the article is about sample homogenization, acid digestion, and elemental analysis to better understand critical procedures for sample preparation and subsequent analysis as we highlight important steps, suggestions, and limitations of the entire process.We will focus on the optimization of the entire processes for samples such as vegetables, wine, ice creams, E-liquids, and in the future, even inorganic samples, which require different sample preparation techniques.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Homogenization and Acid Digestion of Food Samples for Multi-Elemental Determination at JoVE.com

Homogenization and Acid Digestion of Food Samples for Multi-Elemental Determination

To begin, use a clean ceramic knife to manually cut food samples into smaller pieces. Transfer the samples to 250-milliliter glass beakers. Then place the samples in a dryer at 105 degrees Celsius until there is no change in weight.Next, transfer the dried sample into a mixer beaker. Grind the sample until it turns into a fine powder or a homogenous paste. With a clean plastic spatula, transfer the homogenized sample into a 50-milliliter glass beaker.Next, weigh 250 milligrams of the sample into an open reaction vessel on an analytical balance. Once the weighing is complete, cover the reaction vessel with its lid. Then transfer it to a fume hood.Now open the cover lids of the reaction vessels. Then pipette five milliliters of 68%nitric acid and one milliliter of 30%hydrogen peroxide into each reaction vessel. With a 200-microliter pipette, add 37.5 microliters of ICP multi-element standard solution into reaction vessels for a spike recovery test.Ensure that each unspiked and spiked sample is prepared in triplicate. Place the cover lids on the reaction vessels and screw the thread cover on the reaction vessels to tighten the cover lids. Allow the samples to react with the acids for two to three minutes.To perform microwave-assisted wet acid digestion, distribute the closed reaction vessels symmetrically in the microwave rack. Insert the rack into the microwave chamber and mount it on a holder. Then close the microwave door.Digest the samples using the selected digestion program, while monitoring the change in reaction conditions on the screen. Once the digestion is complete, remove the rack from the oven chamber. Close the door of the instrument and switch it off.Now slowly open the lids of the reaction vessels to release any gases formed during digestion. Turn the reaction vessels towards the fume hood. With a glass funnel, quantitatively transfer the digested sample into a clean 25-milliliter glass volumetric flask.Dilute the sample with ultrapure water up to the mark on the flask. Then close the mouth of the flask with a stopper and mix the contents well. Next, connect a 20-milliliter plastic syringe to a polyamide syringe filter.Fill the syringe with the diluted sample. Then filter its contents into a 50-milliliter plastic centrifuge tube. Homogenization resulted in fine sample particulates that were uniform in size and evenly distributed.Acid digestion caused a steady increase in temperature with time.

homogenization-acid-digestion-food-samples-for-multi-elemental

Research

JoVE Journal

Chemistry

235 vistas.  University of Maribor. Para comenzar, use un cuchillo de cerámica limpio para cortar manualmente las muestras de alimentos en trozos más pequeños. Transfiera las muestras a vasos de vidrio de 250 mililitros. Luego coloque las muestras en una secadora a 105 grados centígrados hasta que no haya cambios en el peso.A continuación, transfiera la muestra seca a un vaso mezclador. Muele la muestra hasta que se convierta en un polvo fino o en una pasta homogénea. Con una espátula de plástico limpia, transfie...