Determination of selenium in infant formula and enteral formula by dry ash graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with deuterium background correction.

A method was developed to determine selenium in infant formula using a graphite furnace equipped with deuterium background correction after dry ashing. The method circumvents the use of perchloric acid, 2,3-diaminonapthalene (DAN) and hydride generation without the use of Zeeman background correction. Twelve commercial infant and enteral formulas and corresponding spiked products (30-500 ng) were analyzed in triplicate for Se to evaluate this method. All test portions were digested on a hot plate after addition of magnesium nitrate-nitric acid. Following heating, digests were evaporated to dryness and placed in a 500 degrees C muffle furnace for 30 min to complete ashing. All Se was converted to Se+4 by dissolving the ash in HCl (5 + 1) and holding the solution for 20 min in a 60 degrees C water bath. Se+4 was subsequently reduced to Se(zero) with ascorbic acid and collected on a membrane filter. The membrane filters were digested in a small volume of nitric acid in a microwave oven. Following digestion, contents of the vessels were diluted and analyzed for Se by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Selenium standards in starch or in unfortified formula containing trace levels of Se were carried through the entire process. The recovery range for Se was 85-127%, and analyzed reference materials fell within their certified range for Se. This method is as sensitive (detection limit 0.44 ng Se/g) as methods reported in the literature and may be applicable to other foods.