Impurities of natural salts of the earth

ABSTRACT

In this study, 18 different samples of unrefined coarse food salt were examined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Additionally, microphotographs were taken to determine the visual distribution of the impurities in the salt samples. None of the salt samples analysed contained arsenic, mercury, tin, and antimony. Cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead, barium, lithium, aluminium, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, cupper, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, and calcium were determined in some salt samples. According to the results of FTIR analysis mainly polyamide polymer derivatives were found in Himalaya White, Himalaya, Klodawa, Nakhchivan, Delice, Guérande Flake, Guérande Celtic, Maldon, Havaii Black, Havaii Green, Havaii Red, Maras, and İzmir salts.

KEYWORDS:

• Coarse salt
• mineral
• heavy metals
• microplastics
• food authentication

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr. İsra Toptancı from İstanbul Food Control Laboratory and Dr. Fatma Bayrakçeken from the chemistry department of Atatürk University for providing the opportunity to use the ICP-MS and FTIR.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured inthis article.