Determination of essential elements in food and feed materials by atomic absorption spectrometry

Determination of baseline levels of essential elements like iron, copper, manganese and zinc was carried out in different varieties of animal feeds and in wheat grains by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Various food articles contain different amount of essential elements. The precision and accuracy have been calculated. The range of values of iron, copper, manganese and zinc in animal feeds in form 389+-12 to 7465+-222 micro g/g; 1.1 to 3.1 +- 0.5 micro g/g; 27 +- to 267 micro g/g and 46 +- 5 to 245 + 12 micro g/g, respectively whereas the range in wheat grains for iron, copper, manganese and zinc is 40 +- 2 to 55 +- micro g/g; 6 +- 0.5 to 16 +- 2 micro g/g; 35 +- 3 to 67 +- 4.3 micro g/g and 38 +- 2.7 to 64 +- 3.34 micro g/g, respectively. In order to check the accuracy, NBs reference materials, SRM-1567 (wheat flour) and SRM-1571 (orchard leaves) were analysed. The values so obtained were found to be in fairly good agreement with the standard values. The results were also compared with other reported values. (author)