DETERMINATION OF C VITAMIN AND SOME ESSENTIAL
TRACE ELEMENTS (Ni, Mn, Fe, Cr) IN BEE PRODUCTS
Nicoleta Matei,a Semaghiul Birghila,a Simona Dobrinas,a Petre Capotab
a Department
of Chemistry, University “Ovidius” of Constantza, 124, Mamaia Blvd.,
8700, Constantza, ROMANIA
b Institute of Rare and Nonferrous Metals,
Abstract
During the last years, following the general trend of using
what nature is directly offering, bee products got an increasing importance as
essential natural resources in promoting healthy food. The objective of this
study was to determine the ascorbic acid and the contents of trace essential
elements (Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni).
Ascorbic acid was first known to prevent scurvy. This disease is a rare
clinical finding today. Yet, interest in ascorbic acid persists. Ascorbic acid
is largely used in therapy as an anti-infections factor. It is essential to the
normal functioning of cells. Ascorbic acid, C6H8O6,
is cleanly oxidized to dehidroascorbic acid by
bromine. An unmeasured excess of potassium bromide is added to an acidified
solution of the sample. The solution is titrated with standard potassium bromate to the first permanent appearance of excess
bromine; this excess is then determined iodometrically
with standard sodium tiosulfate. Instrumental method
for the analysis of Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni in bee products
is inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The
levels of Ni varied from 1.54 to 2.55 mg/Kg, Fe from 2.55 to 3.50 mg/Kg, Mn from 1.75 to
6.51 mg/Kg, Cr from 0.03 to 0.80 mg/Kg.
Key words: bee products, ascorbic acid, trace elements,
ICP-AES