Determination of Mineral Elements in Milk Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry

The determination of mineral elements in milk products is of great importance since their excess or deficiency may affect human health. In this study, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and iron were determined in milk products from South Korea. The samples were wet-digested by microwave-assisted combustion using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The method was validated by sensitivity, linearity, precision, recovery checks, and the analysis of a milk powder certified reference material. The elemental concentrations were similar in the milk products. Calcium and potassium were the most abundant, followed by phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, and iron. All concentrations were comparable to previous values and were within the limits of recommended dietary allowances and tolerable upper levels.