Determination of inorganic cations by capillary ion electrophoresis in Ilex paraguariensis (St. H.) a plant used to prepare tea in South America

A practical and economical capillary ion electrophoresis method with indire ct UV detection at 214 nm was developed for determination of inorganic cati ons in plants of Ilex paraguariensis (St, H.) and their infusion known as m ate tea, a very popular beverage in South America, A microwave digestion pr ocedure was used to prepare the herbal plants, but the infusion was only di luted. The background electrolyte contained 6mM imidazole and 10mM alpha-hy droxyisobutyric acid, pH 4.0, The running voltage was 20 kV and temperature was 25 degrees C, K, Na, Ca, Mg, and Mn ions were quantitated, and lineari ty was demonstrated between 0.6 and 120 ppm. The results were in good agree ment with those obtained by flame atomic absorption and emission spectromet ry. Accuracy of the method was verified by comparison with Beech leaves CRM 100, a standard reference material. The high content of minerals and sever al oligoelements, especially Mn in mate tea, is considered to be of nutriti onal interest.