Determination of Mineral Elements in Milk Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

The determination of mineral elements in milk products is of great importance since their excess or deficiency may affect human health. In this study, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and iron were determined in milk products from South Korea. The samples were wet-digested by microwave-assisted combustion using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The method was validated by sensitivity, linearity, precision, recovery checks, and the analysis of a milk powder certified reference material. The elemental concentrations were similar in the milk products. Calcium and potassium were the most abundant, followed by phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, and iron. All concentrations were comparable to previous values and were within the limits of recommended dietary allowances and tolerable upper levels.

Keywords:

• ICP-OES
• Milk
• Mineral elements
• Yogurt

Notes

^a Elements spiked at 1000 mg/kg, others were spiked at 500 mg/kg.

Note: Values with different letters within a row differ significantly (P < 0.05). Each sample was analyzed in triplicate.

^a Sachez-Sagarra et al. 2000.

^b De la Fuente et al. 2003.

^c Sola-Larrañaga and I. Navarro-Blasco 2009.

^d García et al. 2006.

^e Guler 2007.

^f Avegliano et al. 2011.

^g Recommended dietary. allowance.

^h Tolerable upper level.