Features of sample preparation techniques in the total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis of tea leaves

Artem S Maltsev; Elena V Chuparina; Galina V Pashkova; Julia V Sokol'nikova; Olga V Zarubina; Anna N Shuliumova

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128502

Features of sample preparation techniques in the total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis of tea leaves

Food Chem. 2021 May 1:343:128502. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128502. Epub 2020 Oct 31.

Authors

Artem S Maltsev¹, Elena V Chuparina², Galina V Pashkova³, Julia V Sokol'nikova², Olga V Zarubina², Anna N Shuliumova⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of the Earth's Crust, SB RAS, 128 Lermontov st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation; Kazan National Research Technological University, 68 K.Marx st., Kazan, Russian Federation. Electronic address: artemmaltsev1@gmail.com.
² Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, SB RAS, 1A Favorsky st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
³ Institute of the Earth's Crust, SB RAS, 128 Lermontov st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation.
⁴ Institute of the Earth's Crust, SB RAS, 128 Lermontov st., Irkutsk, Russian Federation; Kazan National Research Technological University, 68 K.Marx st., Kazan, Russian Federation.

PMID: 33153812
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128502

Abstract

Tea is a popular drink around the world and contains essential minerals and trace elements for human health. In this study, the analytical capabilities of the total-reflection X-ray fluorescence method (TXRF) were considered for the analysis of tea. Different sample preparation techniques, e.g. suspension, open vessel acid digestion, and microwave acid digestion were examined. The influence of particle size was investigated in the analysis of the suspension of tea samples. Mass-absorption coefficients for the tea matrix and the critical surface density of the specimen were calculated. The data obtained explain the presence of absorption effects in the determination of P, S, Cl, and K in suspensions. The digestion procedure is chosen as an optimal sample preparation technique for the TXRF analysis of tea. Nineteen real tea samples were analyzed using TXRF. The advantages of TXRF have been presented through the comparison of results with the wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry method.

Keywords: Digestion; Multielement analysis; Sample preparation techniques; Suspension; TXRF; Tea leaves.

MeSH terms

Analytic Sample Preparation Methods / methods*
Humans
Plant Leaves / chemistry*
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission*
Tea / chemistry*
Trace Elements / analysis

Substances

Tea
Trace Elements