Thermo Fisher Scientific Flame and Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometers Facilitate Accurate, Optimized Analyses of Trace Elements in Rice Products

Rice is the second-most prevalent cereal crop in the world, with an annual global production of approximately 600 million tons. Consequently, trace elemental analysis of rice and related products is important on a nutritional and toxicological level, and the analysis of heavy metals is of particular importance to human health. Global legislation now exists to regulate the permissible levels of cadmium in foodstuffs, with both China and the EU setting an upper limit of 0.2 mg/kg of cadmium in rice. Such legislation creates a requirement to monitor rice and rice products for trace metal content. The iCE 3000 Series is the ideal tool for accurate and rapid determination of multiple trace elements in rice products, ensuring optimal product quality in compliance with global legislation.

The new application note provides a detailed overview of sample and standard preparation with optimized methods for the analysis of copper, zinc, manganese, cadmium and lead in rice products using flame and furnace AA. Copper, manganese and zinc were analyzed using flame atomic absorption, as these elements can be found as natural constituents in soils and water, which requires detection within the low mg/kg (ppm) range. The research also looked for cadmium and lead, as these are toxic elements with no nutritional benefit. Since it was necessary to analyze these elements at trace levels, graphite furnace atomic absorption was used.

Experimental results demonstrate how easily the iCE 3000 Series AA spectrometers can be used for the multi-element analysis of rice products. Wizards in Thermo Scientific Solaar software were used to facilitate both flame and furnace optimization. Flame and graphite furnace analyses generated excellent detection limits. Results were below 5 ug/kg for copper and zinc, below 40 ug/kg for manganese, 0.03 ug/kg for cadmium and 0.2 ug/kg for lead, easily ensuring regulatory compliance. A certified reference material was used to verify both the flame and furnace methods, obtaining excellent recoveries.

For more information about the Thermo Scientific iCE 3000 Series of AA spectrometers or to obtain a copy of the application note, please call +49-6103-408-0, email analyze@thermofisher.com or visit www.thermo.com/ice.

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About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With 2008 revenues of $10.5 billion, we have approximately 34,000 employees and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. The Thermo Scientific brand represents a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.

For further press information please contact: Celine Callender, The Scott Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AA, United Kingdom Tel: + 44 1477 539 539 Fax: +44 1477 539 540 E-mail: thermo@scottpr.com


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