Assessment of cadmium and lead in commercial coconut water and industrialized coconut milk employing HR-CS GF AAS.

In this work, an analytical method for the determination of Cd and Pb in natural coconut water samples, industrialized coconut water samples and coconut milk using high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GF AAS), after minimum treatment of the sample was developed. The analytical method was applied to 46 samples collected in Salvador, Bahia (Brazil). The ranges of concentrations obtained were: 0.42-18.72 µg L-1 Cd and <0.70-36.32 µg L-1 Pb for natural coconut water samples (n = 14); <0.06-1.49 µg L-1 Cd and 6.57-29.02 µg L-1 Pb for industrialized water coconut samples (n = 16); and <0.10-5.93 ng g-1 Cd and <0.85-22.41 ng g-1 Pb for coconut milk samples (n = 16). For all samples, Cd and Pb concentrations were below the maximum tolerated values recommended by Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, ANVISA).

Optimization of sample preparation procedures for evaluation of the mineral composition of fish feeds using ICP-based methods.

This work describes the application of an experimental design in optimizing the decomposition and spectrometer operational conditions for analysis of fish feeds. The content of 22 elements (six macroelements, four microelements and eleven trace elements) in feeds for fishes (ornamental and for human consumption) was determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-based methods. Limits of quantification were obtained and the values ranged between 0.02 mg kg-1 (Cd) and 76 mg kg-1 (Al). Evaluation of the methods was achieved through analysis of standard reference material, Oyster Tissue (NIST 1566b) and Tea (NCS DC 73351). Element concentrations in feed samples for ornamental fish ranged from <0.02 mg kg-1 (Cd) to 2.79% (P) and for fish breeding for human consumption from <0.02 mg kg-1 (Cd) to 2.00% (Ca). The concentrations of the elements obtained in the analyzed fish feeds were within the limits established by Brazilian and American legislation for regulated elements.