Comparing sample preparation methods for simultaneous determination of heavy metals and food micronutrient supplements by ICP-MS method

Abstract

A comparative study of three sample digestion methods for the simultaneous determination of 11 elements in food supplements by ICP-MS method is presented. The methods include: ashing the sample in a furnace at 500°C followed by acid dissolution; digesting the sample in a Poly TetraFluoroEthylene tube with a heating device at 170°C for 4 hours; and microwave digestion at 170°C for 40 minutes. The accuracy of the methods was evaluated by analysizing a Fapas T07509QC- Nutritional Food Supplement reference and the results showed good consistency between the certified values and the measured values for both wet digestion and microwave digestion methods. These results suggest that the sample digestion method in a PTFE tube with a heating device has the potential to become a widely used solution in laboratories, especially those without microwave systems, while improving efficiency, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in elemental analysis by ICP-MS.