Fast determination of Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Zn in meat samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry after alkaline solubilization

• Some mineral elements were determined in fresh and processed meat samples by ICP OES.
• Simple sample dissolution with TMAH has been proposed.
• Good accuracies and precisions were achieved by the method.
• Method was easily applicable to routine analysis of various meat samples.

An analytical method for the determination of mineral elements in fresh and processed meat samples using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) was developed. The samples were introduced into the ICP OES equipment after alkaline sample solubilization with 25% (m/v) tetramethylammonium hydroxide for 2–3 h, at room temperature, and dilution with water. The instrumental parameters were optimized using plasma robustness and the signal-to-background ratio. The species studied were Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Zn and the accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing different certified reference materials (bovine liver, meat homogenate and bovine muscle); recovery percentages ranged from 85% to 118%. The results obtained showed good agreement at a confidence level of 95% with the certified values, presenting RSD values <6.0%. Different commercial samples of processed meat, and fresh samples of bovine and pork meat were analyzed. The range concentrations found for the studied species were: Fe (13.2–173.9 μg/g); Mg (160–1020 μg/g); Mn (0.18–6.30 μg/g); P (1.93–8.53 mg/g); Zn (8.7–225.2 μg/g), showing wide variation depending on the sample types. The proposed method proved to be adequate for determining these analytes in routine meat analysis as well as for nutritional studies.