HYDRIDE GENERATION ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRIC (HGAAS) DETERMINATION OF SELENIUM IN TERM AND PRETERM INFANT FORMULAS AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM
Lh. Foster et S. Sumar, HYDRIDE GENERATION ATOMIC-ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRIC (HGAAS) DETERMINATION OF SELENIUM IN TERM AND PRETERM INFANT FORMULAS AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM, Food chemistry, 55(3), 1996, pp. 293-298
A simple and sensitive hydride generation atomic absorption spectromet
ry method is described for the determination of total selenium in infa
nt formulae. Decomposition of the composite sample matrix involved ove
rnight digestion with a nitric-perchloric acid mixture (10:2 mi) then
heating at 150 degrees C (30 min) and 220 degrees C (60 min). No appar
ent matrix interferences were encountered. The selenium levels in infa
nt formulae, reported for the first time, ranged from 0.034 to 0.093 m
u g/g (dry wt) for bovine casein and whey-based term powdered infant p
roducts, 0.023-0.093 mu g/g (dry wt) for preterm powdered formulae and
0.027-0.049 mu g/g (wet wt) for hospital administered low birth weigh
t ready-to-feed for mulae. These values are dependent on geographic or
igin of bovine milk and exhibit variation between batches. Routine QC
analysis and fortification by manufacturers is recommended.