Use of oxidation and reduction vapor generation for lowering the detection limits of iodine in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Abstract

Procedures of microwave oxygen combustion and microwave acid digestion of biological samples were optimized for the subsequent determination of iodine. A new method was proposed for the generation of vapor iodine from periodate ions using hydrogen peroxide as a reductant. Procedures were developed for determining iodine in biological samples by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) using oxidation and reduction vapor generation; these allowed the detection limit for iodine to be lowered by 3–4 orders of magnitude. The developed procedures were used to analyze certified reference materials of milk (Skim Milk Powder BCR 150) and seaweed (Sea Lettuce BCR 279) and a Supradyn vitamin complex.