Quantificação de cobre, cádmio, chumbo e zinco em mel por voltametria de pulso diferencial com eletrodo de diamante dopado com boro

Abstract

Depending on the origin, honey can be a mixture of different components, mainly carbohydrates, which give a sweet taste to the product. The mineral concentration is low and depends on the environment where the honey is produced, being affected by soil composition, geology and by the respective geographical locations. Being the result of a process of bioaccumulation, honey can be used to collect information about of environment in which bees live. This study developed a methodology for the extraction and quantification of Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn in honey with boron-doped diamond electrode, by differential pulse voltammetry. The methodology was optimized through design of experiments, obtaining prediction models, after a detailed study concerning the activation of the electrode surface. The use of statistical tools such as Principal Components Analysis, Analysis of variance and response surfaces assisted in obtaining optimum conditions for the analysis of metals with such electrode. For analysis of Cu, Pb and Cd was used the deposition potential of -0.95 V vs Ag|AgCl for 240 seconds, hydrochloric acid 0.1 molL-1. Zn analysis was performed in acetate buffer 0.5 mol L-1 with a deposition potential of -1.5 V vs Ag|AgCl for 240 seconds. Because it is a heterogeneous matrix, rich in organic matter, treatment of digestion of the sample was necessary. The mineralization of honey on heating plate was the most appropriate for treatment of the sample. The optimized method showed selectivity, good sensitivity, precision, accuracy and robustness. The concentration of analytes ranged between 0.242 and 1.378 mgL-1 for Cu, 0.129 and 0.918 mgL-1 for Pb and 0.819 and 2.492 mgL-1 for Zn. The Cd was not detected in any sample. The measurements obtained were compared with glassy carbon electrode modified with mercury film and atomic absorption spectrometry with graphite furnace, and the results did not differ statistically, by Analysis of variance.