Determination of Trace Elements in Vegetable Oils and Biodiesel by Atomic Spectrometric Techniques—A Review

Abstract

The determination of trace elements in edible oils and biodiesel using atomic spectrometric methods is reviewed. Problems related to sample pretreatment for appropriate sample introduction and calibration are addressed as well as the strategies to overcome them. Recent trends aimed at simplifying sample manipulation are presented. The applications and scope of atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), flame optical emission spectrometry (F-OES), inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) techniques for the determination of trace metals in edible oils and biodiesel are discussed, as well as some current instrumental new developments.

Keywords:

• Trace elements
• vegetable oil
• biodiesel
• atomic spectrometry techniques

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil) for financial support and scholarships.

A.J. Curtius belongs to the INCT of Energy and Environment from CNPq, http://www.inct.cienam.ufba.br