Tracing nutrients in milk products

摘要

This study has demonstrated the ability of a novel inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy system to reliably and effectively analyse a variety of milk samples for a suite of essential nutrients over a wide range of elemental concentrations. With its extended capabilities, the instrument tested provides greater multi-element sample throughput when compared to flame atomic absorption, while allowing the determination of elements such as phosphorus and sulphur, which are extremely challenging by atomic absorption. Additionally, with the use of microwave digestion, a simplified sample preparation procedure can be used, which increases sample throughput and productivity for the laboratory, as compared with hot plate or hot block digestions. The ability to completely digest the samples eliminates the need for matrix-match calibration standards, thus further simplifying the analysis.