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Optimization of a Digestion Method Using Diluted Acid in Bee Pollen Samples for Determination of Fe, Mn, and Zn by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

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Abstract

In this study, the determination of Fe, Mn, and Zn by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was performed in nine bee pollen samples from different cities. The efficiency of acid digestion in bee pollen samples using nitric acid at different concentrations (3.5, 7.0, and 14.0 mol L−1) and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave oven was evaluated. The proposed procedure using nitric acid diluted to 3.5 mol L−1 was effective for the digestion of all the pollen samples. The samples showed low levels of Fe. However, Mn and Zn were the elements which presented the highest concentrations in the samples. The bee pollen samples studied showed a great Mn and Zn contribution to the recommended daily intake (RDI) of the human diet, contributing with 71.7 and 15.1 %, respectively. The accuracy of the measurements by FAAS was evaluated by adding aliquots of the elements in the digestates. Recoveries obtained ranged from 89 to 106 % for Fe, 94 to 100 % for Mn, and 88 to 108 % for Zn.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Group of Analytical Spectrometry Applied, Faculty of Chemistry, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, 66075-110, Brazil

    Jean S. Siqueira, João B. Pereira Jr, Michelle S. Lemos, Heronides A. Dantas Filho & Kelly G. Fernandes Dantas

Authors
  1. Jean S. Siqueira
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  2. João B. Pereira Jr
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  3. Michelle S. Lemos
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  4. Heronides A. Dantas Filho
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  5. Kelly G. Fernandes Dantas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kelly G. Fernandes Dantas.

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This is an original research article that has neither been published previously nor considered presently for publication elsewhere.

All authors named in the manuscript are entitled to the authorship and have approved the final version of the submitted manuscript.

Funding

This study was funded by Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e Pesquisas (FAPESPA) (Processo ICAAF N° 012/2012), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (Processo CNPq –REPENSA n° 562994/2010–6), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

Conflict of Interest

Jean S. Siqueira has received research grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). João B. Pereira Junior, Michelle S. Lemos have received research grants from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

Jean S. Siqueira declares that he has no conflict of interest. João B. Pereira Junior declares that he has no conflict of interest. Michelle S. Lemos declares that she has no conflict of interest. Heronides A. Dantas Filho declares that he has no conflict of interest. Kelly G. Fernandes Dantas declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Siqueira, J.S., Pereira, J.B., Lemos, M.S. et al. Optimization of a Digestion Method Using Diluted Acid in Bee Pollen Samples for Determination of Fe, Mn, and Zn by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Food Anal. Methods 10, 759–763 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-016-0625-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-016-0625-0

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