Determination of halogens and sulfur in honey: a green analytical method using a single analysis

Abstract

The halogen determination is important in view of their biological and environmental roles, but their determination has still been considered a challenge, especially at low concentrations. Therefore, a method for honey decomposition using microwaveinduced combustion (MIC) combined with ion chromatography and conductimetric detection (for Cl, F, and S determination) or mass detection (for Br and I determination) (IC-CD-MS) is proposed. Trueness was evaluated by adding reference materials (RMs) or a standard solution in the sample. By using 50 mmol L −1 NH 4 OH as the absorbing solution, recoveries for all analytes were between 94 and 103%, in both tests. Moreover, no statistical difference (t test, confidence level of 95%) was observed for the results obtained by IC in comparison with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (Cl and S) and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Br and I). Finally, the proposed method was applied to 19 honey samples from different origins. The concentrations ranged from < 0.45 to 2.39 mg kg −1 (Br), 21.8 to 671 mg kg −1 (Cl), and 11 to 154 mg kg −1 (S), while the F and I concentrations were below that their quantification limits (LOQs) in all analyzed samples. The LOQs for Br, Cl, F, I, and S were 0.45, 21, 3.7, 0.077, and 8.7 mg kg −1 , respectively. The MIC method provided a compatible solution to IC for the halogen and S determination in honey by a single analysis.

New Analytical Strategy for Bioaccessibility Evaluation of Bromine and Iodine from Edible Seaweeds

“…Studies involving samples with high moisture content have already employed highly successful strategies. 4,30 In the present study, increasing sample volume, as well as different combustion aid and ignition solution proportions, was carried out. Microcrystalline cellulose was used as a combustion aid to digest a high volume of samples and, consequently, improve the LOQs.…”

“…The determination of bromine and iodine in different matrices recently has been successfully performed by ion chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (IC-MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) ,, in a suitable detection capability. There are no reports using IC-MS for bromine and iodine determination in edible seaweed and in the fractions from in vitro bioaccessibility.…”

Selected Instrumental Techniques Applied in Food and Feed: Quality, Safety and Adulteration Analysis

“…Though ICP-MS is a considerably expensive technique, analyzing several non-metals using spectrometric techniques is far more efficient than other methods (see, for example, [ 196 ]). Recently, a green chemistry method using ion chromatography, conductimetric/mass detection, has been developed specifically for honey [ 197 ]. ICP-MS is a very attractive technique, especially in high-throughput laboratories.…”

A Portable Measurement Device Based on Phenanthroline Complex for Iron Determination in Water

“…If there is a fault during this period, the properties of the sample may be changed and it will no longer be representative of the water body from where it was collected. These laboratory methodologies also require instruments that involve high acquisition and maintenance costs, such as inductively coupled plasma (ICP) [ 26 , 27 ]. Flow injection using colorimetry, for example, with its low-cost maintenance, makes the process less expensive, but the initial investment is significantly high, it has a large form factor, and it cannot be easily carried into the field [ 28 , 29 ].…”