Determination of Total and Fluoride Bound Aluminium in Tea Infusions by Ion Selective Electrode and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

ABSTRACT

Speciation of metallic compunds is important especially for their bioavailability. In this present study fluoride bound aluminium species were determined in tea infusion. Total aluminium was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Free fluoride and total fluoride were measured by fluoride selective ion electrode (FISE) with the assistance of TISAB buffer solution used for adjustment of pH and total ionic strength, and ALCOA buffer solution which decomposes all of the Al-fluoride complexes in solution.

During the studies, the effects of pH and time on the formation of Al-F complexes and interference of some metal ions found in tea infusion such as Al³⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺ on the concentration of free fluoride were investigated. The concentration of each Al-fluoride complexes in tea fusion were determined indirectly by calculation using pF-Mole Fraction Diagram. It was found that 1.13±0.15 mg 1⁻ of 12.00±0.86 mg 1⁻ total aluminium is fluoride bound aluminium, which means that appoximately 10% of total aluminium in tea infusion is complexed with fluoride.

Keywords::

• Aluminium-fluoride complexes
• Al speciation
• Speciation
• Tea infusion
• Fluoride selective electrode