Doehlert design in the optimization of ultrasound assisted dissolution of fish fillet samples with tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide for metals determination using FAAS

Doehlert design and desirability function were used in the optimization of an ultrasound assisted dissolution method of fish fillet samples with tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for the determination of Ca, Fe, Zn and Mg by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The variables values after optimization were 620 μL (volume of TMAH), 25 min (sonication time) and 46 °C (bath temperature). The quantification limits for Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn were 56, 107, 23 and 2.9 μg g−1, respectively. Accuracy was evaluated by comparing the results generated from the analysis of the samples treated by the proposed method and by wet digestion. Additionally, accuracy for Fe and Zn was assessed by the analysis of certified reference materials Tort-3 (Lobster hepatopancreas), ERM-CE 278 (mussel tissue) and Dolt-4 (Fish liver). There were no significant differences between the results obtained at a 95% confidence level when results were evaluated by t-test application.