Application of focused-microwave wet digestion to the determination of trace metals in human gallstones by ICP/AES

• Published in: Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 96 - 99
• Main Authors: Sahuquillo, A., Rubio, R., Ribó, J.M., Ros, E., Vela, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stuttgart Elsevier GmbH 01-06-2000; Fischer
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Calcium - metabolism; Chemistry, Clinical - methods; Cholelithiasis - metabolism; Chromium - analysis; Cobalt - analysis; Copper - analysis; gallstones; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; ICP-AES; Iron - analysis; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Manganese - analysis; Medical sciences; microwave digestion; Microwaves; Nickel - analysis; Other diseases. Semiology; Spectrophotometry, Atomic - methods; Trace metals; Zinc - analysis; ICP-AES; microwave digestion; gallstones; Trace metals; Human; Trace element; Lithiasis; Digestive diseases; Gallbladder; Concentration; Measurement method; Biliary tract disease
• ISSN: 0946-672X; 1878-3252
• DOI: 10.1016/S0946-672X(00)80038-3

We propose an analytical digestion method for trace metal determination (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) in gallstones, in an attempt to facilitate detection of their origin. The method consists of sample digestion with HNO
3 and H
2O
2 by means of focused microwave. Metals are quantified by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The effect of calcium concentration in the analytical solutions was studied. Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were detected in all the samples analysed and the highest concentrations were obtained for Cu and Fe, especially in black-pigmented gallstones. The reproducibility in terms of %RSD, determined in the gallstones with the lowest metal content, was below 5% for Cu, between 10 % and 15% for Mn and Zn and up to 25% for Fe.