Determination of lead traces in honey using a fluorimetric method

TALIO, MARÍA CAROLINA; MUÑOZ, VANESA; ACOSTA, MARIANO; FERNÁNDEZ, LILIANA P.

FOOD CHEMISTRY

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2019 vol. 298

0308-8146

Heavy traces metals may be present in honey being their detection very important for the quality control and it also serves as an indicator of environmental pollution. A new methodology for lead traces determination has been developed based on the quenching effect of the metal on fluorescent emission of 8-hydroxyquinoline and o-phenanthroline at λem=360nm (λexc=250nm). Experimental variables that influence on fluorimetric sensitivity were optimized by uni-variation assays. The calibration graph using zeroth order regression was linear from 0.105µgL−1 to 51.8µgL−1, with correlation coefficient better than 0.998. Under the optimal conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were of 0.035µgL−1 and 0.105µgL−1, respectively. The trueness of the methodology was assessed trough parallel samples analysis by ICP-MS. The proposed method showed good sensitivity, adequate selectivity with good tolerance to foreign ions, and was applied to the determination of lead trace amounts in honey from San Luis city (Argentina) with satisfactory results.