Non-metals determination in animal feed bu ion chromatography after microwave-induced combustión.

CORA JOFRE, F.; LA ROSA NOVO, D.; TESSMER SCAGLIONI, P.; FOSTER MESKO, M.; SAVIO M.

Caparica

Congreso; 3 rd International Caparica Christmas Conference on Sample Treatment; 2018

Determination of essential and non-essential elements in grains and derivatives is very important,given that some non-metals are investigated for their role in various biological processes.Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) recommends official methods fordetermination of non-metals in animal feeds; however, they present high limits of detection anddifficulties in routine analysis [1]. Thus, it is important to use an appropriate analytical method forquality control of non-metals in animal feed. Ion chromatography (IC) is well-established in routineanalysis for non-metals determination in these types of samples [2]. The most convenient way tointroduce the sample in the equipment is as a representative solution. Thus, microwave-inducedcombustion (MIC) has been successfully used to decompose samples with a high content oforganic matter and it can be an excellent alternative sample preparation method for grains, whichpresent a difficult decomposition matrix [3]. In this study, the MIC method was evaluated forsample preparation of grains and cereals used to feed pigs. Samples from different breedingplaces from Argentina were ground, dried and decomposed. For this, some parameters such assample mass and the absorbing solution more suitable (H2O and NH4OH solutions) for theanalytes and for the determination techniques were evaluated. The accuracy evaluation wascarried out by recovery tests, by use of reference material with similar matrix to the samples andby comparison of the results with those obtained using other analytical methods. Thus, thecombination of MIC with IC can be an eco-friendly alternative for the determination of non-metalsin pig feed.