Evaluating the degree of weathering in landslide-prone soils in the humid tropics: The case of Limbe,SW Cameroon

This study analyses the behaviour and mobility of major and some trace elements during the physical and chemical development of landslide-prone soil profiles in Limbe, SW Cameroon. The soils result from in situ weathering of Tertiary basaltic and picrobasaltic rocks. Textural and chemical characterisations, together with two mass balance models are applied to understand the mobility and redistribution of elements during the weathering of pyroclastic cones and lava flows. Weathering indices are used to estimate the extent of weathering. The chemical composition of the samples is evaluated by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP–OES) and their mineralogical composition by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses. It is observed that intensive weathering results in thick meta-stable soils in which significant loss of Ca, K, Mg, Na and Sr has taken place. There is a noticeable relative enrichment in all analysed trace elements (Ba, Zr, Y, Sc, V, Ni, and Co). Ti, Fe, Al, Mn, P and Ce tend to be leached in some horizons and concentrated in others. Zr, Ti, and Ce concentrations are greater in the soils than in the bedrock but show slight fluctuations in the soil and saprolites hence cannot be used as immobile elements for mass balance evaluations. Y increases progressively with advanced weathering. Major secondary mineral phases developed through weathering are a mixture of expanding (smectites) and non-expanding clays (kaolinite, halloysite and mica). The profiles show the presence of textural heterogeneities that can be exploited as slip surfaces. Data plotted in Si–Al–Fe diagram point out that the most advanced stage of weathering noted in these profiles is the kaolinisation stage.     

Ca Depletion in the Soil Column on a Granite Substrate on the Island of Yakushima, a World Natural Heritage Site

We investigated the vertical profile of element distributions in the soil column on a granite substrate at three sites on the island of Yakushima, a world natural heritage site in southwestern Japan, where stream acidification due to acid rain is of increasing concern. Statistical analysis shows that the elements in the granitic soil can be classified into three groups according to their mineralogical derivations: Group 1 (K, Mg, Mn, Rb, and Nb), group 2 (Fe, Ti, Zr, Cr, and Pb), and group 3 (Ca, Na, Sr, and P), which are related to the presence of K-feldspar and K-mica, Fe-Ti oxides, and plagioclase and apatite, respectively. The pattern of distribution of group-1 elements in the soil column differs slightly among the sites because of differences in the proportions of K-feldspar and K-mica, The organic surface soil is enriched in group-2 elements and shows a strong magnetic susceptibility, indicating the presence of biogenetic magnetite. At all sites, Ca and Sr are intensely depleted due to the selective dissolution of plagioclase. Ca depletion compared to the original granite reaches more than 90 % in the C horizon, resulting in a decreasing capacity for the neutralization of acid rain and an increasing contribution of atmospheric Ca to the surface soil and vegetation.     

Effect of bentonite characteristics on the elemental composition of wine

Physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics of six bentonites were assessed and related to their elemental release to wine. Extraction essays of bentonites in wine at three pH levels were carried out. The multielemental analysis of bentonites and wines was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Bentonite addition resulted in significantly higher concentrations of Li, Be, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Ga, Ge, As, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, W, Tl, Bi, and W. In contrast, the concentrations of B, K, Cu, Zn, and Rb significantly decreased. A strong correlation between Na concentrations of treated wines and its content in bentonite exchange complex was observed. Al and Fe contents reflected bentonite extractable aluminous and ferruginous constituents, while Be, Mg, Ca, V, Mn, Ni, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Sb, Tl, Pb, and U concentrations reflected the elemental composition of bentonites. Several nonconformances with OIV specifications demonstrated the need for an effective control.     

Accumulation and distribution pattern of macro- and microelements and trace elements in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay berries

This paper describes the accumulation pattern of 42 mineral elements in Vitis vinifera L. berries during development and ripening and their distribution in berry skin, seeds, and flesh around harvest time. Grape berries were sampled in two different vineyards with alkaline soil and analyzed using a ICP-MS. Although elemental amounts were significantly different in the grapes from the two vineyards, the accumulation pattern and percentage distribution in different parts of the berries were generally quite similar. Ba, Eu, Sr, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn accumulate prior to veraison. Al, Ce, Dy, Er, Ga, Gd, Ho, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, Sn, Zr, Th, Tm, U, Y, and Yb accumulate mainly prior to veraison but also during ripening. Ag, As, B, Cd, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ge, Hg, K, Li, Na, P, Rb, Sb, Se, and Tl accumulate progressively during growth and ripening. With regard to distribution, Ba, Ca, Eu, Fe, Mn, P, Sr, and Zn accumulate mainly in the seeds, Al, B, Ga, Sn, and the rare earths analyzed, except for Eu, accumulate mainly in the skin, and Ag, As, Cd, Cs, Cu, Ge, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Na, Rb, Sb, Se, Th, Tl, U, and Zr accumulate mainly in the flesh. A joint representation of the accumulation and distribution patterns for the elements in the berry is also given.     

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric determination of minerals in thyme honeys and their contribution to geographical discrimination

Twenty-four Spanish thyme honey samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Twenty-four minerals were quantified for each honey. The elements Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Pb, S, Se, Si, Sr, and Zn were detected in all samples; seven elements are very abundant (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, S, and Si), and six are not abundant (Al, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, and Zn). Eleven of them are trace elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Mo, Pb, Se, Sr, and V) at <1 mg kg(-)(1). Classification of thyme honeys according to their origin (coast, mountains) was achieved by pattern recognition techniques on the mineral data. By means of principal component analysis, a good separation by geographical origin is obtained when scores for the two first principal components are plotted. Classification functions of 11 metals (Al, As, Cr, Cu, K, Li, Mg, Na, P, S, and V) were obtained using stepwise discriminant analysis and applied to classify correctly approximately 100% of the honey samples.     

Parent material and chemical weathering in alpine soils on Mt. Mansfield,Vermont, USA

We compared the elemental composition of soil and bedrock samples to determine the extent of chemical weathering and the nature of the soil parent material in alpine soils on Vermont's highest summit. Previously it was unclear whether these soils formed through weathering of bedrock, glacial till, or eolian sediment, or solely through the accumulation of organic matter. In eighteen profiles, no evidence was found to indicate that soils have developed in glacial till, despite evidence that the mountain was completely inundated by the Laurentide Ice Sheet. In contrast, results strongly support the theory that pedogenesis in this environment involves in situ bedrock weathering under a thickening blanket of acidic organic litter. Weathering indices reveal an increase in weathering intensity upwards from the bedrock, and trends of normalized rare earth elements demonstrate a strong similarity between bedrock and soil samples. Leaching has concentrated less mobile elements such as Al, Cr, La, P, Pb, and Ti in soil horizons and removed mobile elements such as Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Si, and Zn. X-ray diffraction reveals that chlorite, which is present in all bedrock samples and some saprolites, has weathered completely from upper soil horizons, and that hydrobiotite, vermiculite, kaolinite, gibbsite, and goethite have formed in the soil. Ratios of immobile elements (Ce, Cr, Nb, Ta, Ti, Y, and Zr) in soil and bedrock samples are, however, notably different. Furthermore, the moderately mobile trace elements Cu, Mo, and Sr are actually more abundant in soil than in bedrock, and soil concentrations of Zr are up to an order-of-magnitude greater than in bedrock samples. Together these data argue for at least a modest eolian influx, which may have arrived during the regression of Lake Vermont during the latest Pleistocene or from an outwash source in the immediate post-glacial period. Similarly, increased Ca and Na concentrations in soil samples may signify modern deposition of dust bearing Ca (from agricultural fields) and Na (from roads).     

基于矿质元素指纹的粉葛产地溯源研究

为明确矿质元素指纹对粉葛产地鉴别的可行性,筛选出鉴别粉葛产地的有效指标,本研究采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)测定陕西、湖北、广西3个地域粉葛和土壤样品中B、Na、Mg、P、K、Ca、Mn、Co、Cu、Zn、Rb、Sr、Mo、Cd、Cs、Ba、La、Ce、Pr、Nd、Sm和Ti 22种矿质元素含量,并结合主成分分析、逐步判别分析和聚类分析对不同地域样品进行分类。结果表明,除B、Cu元素外,其余元素含量在不同地域粉葛间均存在显著差异(P<0.05);不同地域间粉葛矿质元素含量表现出独有的地理指纹特征,经逐步判别分析筛选出Mg、P、Co、Rb和Sr 5种元素,经回代检验和交叉检验的整体判别率分别为97.7%和93.0%;相关性分析结果表明,粉葛中Rb、Sr和Ti元素含量与对应土壤中的元素呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。因此,矿质元素指纹结合多元统计分析能够在一定程度上实现不同产地粉葛的鉴别,这为粉葛产地溯源的可行性提供了技术支持。     

啤酒花中矿物元素在生长期的动态变化研究

利用电感耦合等离子体-质谱(ICP-MS)和电感耦合等离子体-发射光谱(ICP-OES)对不同种植地的青岛大花、札一和马可波罗3个新疆主产啤酒花品种中的22种矿物元素在生长期的含量进行跟踪测定。结果表明,啤酒花对矿物元素的吸收和积累存在"地域差异"和"时间差异",其中Sr、Na、Rb、Li、Ba、Ga、Co和V的含量受种植地的影响较大;但在整个生长周期内,啤酒花对重金属无明显吸收和富集作用。基于22种元素的主成分分析结果进一步证实,前3个主成分的累计贡献率达到84.36%,且由PC 1和PC 2构成的得分散点图可以很好地区分不同产地的啤酒花样本;而由PC 1和PC 3组成的得分散点图主要可以区分啤酒花的"成熟度"。其中,Mg、K、Li、Na可以用来判别啤酒花的产区;Al、Pb、V对于评价啤酒花的成熟度具有较大价值。     

Effects of fertilization, crop year, variety, and provenance factors on mineral concentrations in onions

Mineral concentrations of onions (Allium cepa L.) grown under various conditions, including factors (fertilization, crop year, variety, and provenance), were investigated to clarify how much each factor contributes to the variation of their concentrations. This was because the mineral concentrations might be affected by various factors. The ultimate goal of this study was to develop a technique to determine the geographic origins of onions by mineral composition. Samples were onions grown under various conditions at 52 fields in 18 farms in Hokkaido, Japan. Twenty-six elements (Li, Na, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Gd, W, and Tl) in these samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Fertilization conditions and crop years of onions caused variations of P, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cs, and Tl concentrations in onions; different onion varieties also showed variations in numerous element concentrations. However, the variations of mineral compositions of onions by these factors were smaller than the differences between production places with a few exceptions. Furthermore, Na, Rb, and Cs in group IA of the periodic table, Ca, Sr, and Ba in group IIA, and Zn and Cd in group IIB showed similar concentration patterns by group; this result demonstrated that elements in the same periodic groups behaved similarly in terms of their absorption in onions.     

Distribution of 32 Elements in Organic Surface Soils: Contributions from Atmospheric Transport of Pollutants and Natural Sources

Data are presented for 32 elements (Li, Be, B, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Hf, Tl, Pb, Bi) in organic-rich surface soils in Norway, based on samples from 464 sites. By considering geographical distributions based on isopleths, results from factor analysis, and ANOVA of median values from 12 different geographical regions, the contributions from natural and anthropogenic sources are estimated for each element. Long-range atmospheric transport of pollutants from areas out of Norway is a dominant source for Cd, Sb, Pb, and Bi and also a strongly contributing factor for Zn, As, Mo, and Tl. Also V, Ni, Cu, and Ge are somewhat affected, but other factors dominate for these elements. Local point sources of pollution provide significant contributions to soil concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, and Cd. The local bedrock is the overriding source of Li, Be, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Rb, Zr, Cs, Ba, REE, Hf, and probably of Ge and Ag. Surface enrichment by root uptake in plants and return to the soil surface by decaying plant material is particularly evident for Mn, Zn, Rb, Cs, and Ba. These elements show no clear difference between south and north in the country, indicating that their plant uptake does not depend on latitude. In the case of B and Sr, atmospheric deposition of marine aerosols is an important source. Rb and Ag, and to a less extent Mn, Ga, and Ba, appear to be depleted in soils near the coast presumably due to cation exchange with airborne marine cations.     

Mineralogy and heavy metal contents of soils and stream sediments in a rural region of Western Germany

This paper presents the results of a study of clay mineralogy and Pb, Zn, Cu, Rb, Sr, Y and Zr analyses of soils and stream sediments of the Schwarzach watershed, a drainage system located in a secluded rural region of eastern Bavaria, far removed from major industrial installations.Clay fractions of soils and stream sediments differ significantly in their mineralogy. The soils average 50% secondary chlorite and 40% illite, whereas recent stream sediments average 20% chlorite and 70% illite. These assemblages are possibly interconvertible under the influence, or on withdrawal, of Schwarzach water. Proportions of clay minerals in fossil stream sediments average approximately 30% chlorite, 50% illite, and 20% kaolinite with up to 10% of 10–14 Å interstratified minerals.Surface soil layers have been enriched in Pb, as have recent stream sediments. The latter have also been enriched in Zn and Cu. The increased amounts of Pb plus its close association with organic C indicate atmospheric deposition of Pb and incipient eutrophication of the Schwarzach River.     

黄土的连续提取实验及Rb/Sr值意义

通过连续提取实验 ,将黄土和古土壤中元素的赋存状态分成六种形态 :水可溶态、可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机物结合态和残留态。结果表明 ,K和Rb等元素 ,主要赋存于残留态中 ,而Ca、Sr等元素主要赋存于碳酸盐结合态和残留态中。Sr在黄土和古土壤中的赋存状态明显与Ca的分布有关。在风化成壤作用中 ,碳酸盐的淋溶和含Ca硅酸盐矿物的分解 ,引起Sr的淋失 ,而Rb保持稳定。因此 ,Rb Sr值指示了黄土和古土壤遭受的淋溶程度 ,反映了黄土高原的降雨量 ,是夏季风强度变化的替代性指标     

MINERAL ELEMENT DISTRIBUTION AND ACCUMULATION PATTERNS WITHIN TWO BARLEY CULTIVARS

Growth stage effects on distribution of mineral nutrients or beneficial elements phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), chloride (Cl), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), sodium (Na), silicon (Si) and nickel (Ni), and the elements bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), and uranium (U) in two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars and how the distribution of these elements changed were determined during the 2006–2007 growing season in a field experiment. Barley plants were sampled from the field at shooting, heading, soft dough, hard dough and harvest stages, and mineral nutrients and other elements concentrations of spike, flag leaf, old leaf, and stem samples were determined by polarized energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Distribution patterns varied considerably from element to element. At the end of the season much of the Ca, Mg, S, Si, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Sr, Ba, La, Ce, and U were located in the spikes. However, much of the P, K, Zn, Cl, Na, Br, and Rb remained in the old leaves or stem.     

The use of carbonatite rock powder as a liming agent

Carbonatite rock powder, originating from the Lillebukt Alkaline Complex at Stjernøy in northern Norway, can potentially be used as a slow‐releasing lime and potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) fertilizer due to a high concentration of the easily weathered minerals calcite (42%) and biotite (30%). However, the enrichment of barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) may cause an undesired uptake to plants when carbonatite is applied to agroecosystems. A pot experiment was designed to investigate the liming and fertilization effects of carbonatite and the potential mobilization of Ba and Sr compared to a dolomite lime commonly used in Norwegian agriculture. These liming agents were mixed with a sandy soil applied to different amounts of peat, and the uptake of Ba, Sr, calcium (Ca), Mg, and K by Festuca arundinácea Schreb. Kora (tall fescue) and Trifolium repens L. Milkanova (white clover) was evaluated. The liming agents were generally incapable of buffering the acidifying effect from increased applications of peat, while the plant dry mass was unaffected. Compared to pots given dolomite and soluble K, the availability of K from carbonatite to plants was equally high or higher, and no difference in the K:(Ca + Mg) ratio in plants was observed. Carbonatite was a significant source to plant Ba and Sr, and the uptake seemed to follow the Ca uptake. Addition of peat amplified the uptake of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, and K to plants, probably an effect of organic acid‐induced weathering of carbonatite. White clover took up Ba, Sr, and Ca more effectively than tall fescue, but the Ba and Sr concentrations in plants were relatively moderate compared to concentrations reported from field investigations.     

Fluctuations of element concentrations during the growing season of Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.)

Fourteen elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, and Zn) were quantitatively determined by AES/ICP in aboveground parts of the endohydric moss Polytrichum formosum (Hedw.) after sampling over regular intervals from 1985 to 1987. With the exception of K, Mg, and Zn all elements showed a large continuous fluctuation (> 30%) during the growing season. Four different patterns of seasonal variation were found: (1) large seasonal variations of element concentrations (～80%) with maximum concentrations in winter and lowest concentrations in the summer months (Al, Fe, Cr, Mg, Pb, and Ti), (2) smaller seasonal variations (～50%) with maximum concentrations in winter and lowest concentrations in summer (Ba, Ca, Cd, Cu, Sr), (3) slight seasonal variations (～30%) with maximum concentrations in the summer (K), and (4) slight seasonal changes (～30%) with maximum concentrations in the winter (Mg and Zn). The relative biological variance of element concentrations between 9 different stands of Polytrichum formosum decreases in the following sequence: Ti, Al, Pb, Fe, Cr, Ni, Ba, Ca, Cu, Cd, K, Mg, Sr, Zn. The relative biological variance of individual elements is generally lower than the variance in element concentrations caused by seasonal changes. Because of its high biological variance for most elements investigated (seasonal as well as between different stands of Polytrichum formosum) this moss should only be used as a passive bioindicator, if all other environmental parameters are standardized.     

Multi-element analysis of soils and sediments by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Soil and sediment reference materials were used to calibrate and evaluate an analytical method for the determination of major (Si, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, K, Mn, P, Ti) and trace elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Mo, Mb, Ni, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sn, Sr, Th, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr) by sequential wavelength X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Samples were prepared as pressed pellets and analysis was done with a total measuring time of thirty minutes per sample. Special attention was given to the selection of the thirty reference materials used for calibration of the spectrometer. Another set of eleven RM (reference materials) was analyzed for the evaluation of accuracy. Detection limits for trace elements (1-2 mg kg^-1) are adequate both for geochemical and environmental purposes, except for Cd and Sb. Accuracy for trace elements falls within the expected interval of certified or recommended values in most cases, but for some major elements, like SiO₂, some results showed discrepancies, evidencing difficulties associated with the determination of light elements in complex matrices. But when quality criteria proposed by mapping programs are applied to the results, their requirements are fulfilled. Both instrumental precision, obtained by twelve sample replicate analyses, and analytical precision, considering also sub-sampling and pellet preparation, lie between the limits of the Horwitz expression, except at concentrations close to the detection limits.     

Depth Profile Of Trace Elements In a Sediment Core Of a High-Altitude Lake Deposit At The Pyrenees, Spain

Depth concentration profiles of 26 elements, i.e. trace elements (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V and Zn), lithophiles (Si, Al, Fe, Mn, Na, K, Mg, Ca and Ti) and nutrients (C, P, N, S) have been established in a sediment core collected at the Respomuso Lake (Pyrenees, Spain). This high altitude lake of glacier origin was transformed into reservoir in the fifties of last century. Correlations among the depth profiles of the above elements were established. HCl-extractable elements, which are better related to bioavailability, followed the profiles of total contents. Principal component analysis was applied to establish the binding behaviour of trace elements in the sediment matrix and, in turn, to search for their anthropogenic or natural sources. It was seen that Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn clustered together, and with exception of Sr, they were not clearly associated with any major component of the sediment. Their depth profiles correlate well with each other, hence indicating their presence as a result of atmospheric pollution. Redox-sensitive elements such as Fe and Mn follow a similar trend along the vertical profile. Depth profiles of As an Co correlate well with those of Fe and Mn. Principal component analysis showed that As, Co, Fe and Mn clustered together, which confirms the close association of As and Co with Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides. As concentrations in many strata exceed the ERM value, and therefore, significant biological effects are expected. Dissolution of minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena taking part in the mineralogy of this area accounts for the As concentration found. Ba, Cr, Rb and V were associated with the sediment matrix (aluminosilicates), hence showing low mobility.     

Baseline element concentrations in soils and plants,Wattenmeer National Park,North and East Frisian Islands,Federal Republic of Germany

Baseline element concentrations are given for dune grass (Ammophilia arenaria), willow (Salix repens), moss (Hylocomium splendens) and associated surface soils. Baseline and variability data for pH, ash, Al, As, Ba, C, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, Ti, V, Y, Yb, and Zn are reported; however, not all variables are reported for all media because, in some media, certain elements were below the analytical detection limit. Spatial variation in element concentration between five Frisian Islands are given for each of the sample media. In general, only a few elements in each media showed statistically significant differences between the islands sampled. The measured concentrations in all sample media exhibited ranges that cannot be attributed to anthropogenic additions of trace elements, with the possible exception of Hg and Pb in surface soils.     

Elemental content relationships in greenhouse grown apple seedlings supplemented with copper and peat

Abstract

Apple seedlings from a greenhouse pot experiment, investigating the effects of copper (Cu) and peat amendments on crop performance growing on a Cu‐and potassium (K)‐deficient soil, were characterized for a range of major and trace elements. Concentrations of barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), Cu, iron (Fe), K, magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), sodium (Na), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), and zinc (Zn) in leaf and stem tissues were correlated with treatment and tissue. Addition of Cu, peat and the nature of the tissue had significant impacts on many element concentrations. Generally, increasing Cu resulted in elevated Ba, Fe, Mo, and Sr as well as Cu levels. The presence of peat resulted in reduced levels, generally in both leaf and stem, of Ba, Mg, Mn, Rb, and Zn and increased levels of Fe, K, and Mo. Finally, the vast majority of elemental concentrations were higher in leaf tissue rather than stem, with the exceptions of Na and Zn. Elemental concentration ranges, over all tissues and conditions of added Cu and peat were (mg kg^‐1) Ba 9–49, Ca 6380–16340, Cu 2–11, Fe 10–57, K 4070–16950, Mg 900–4260, Mn 22–197, Mo 0.02–0.19, Na 28–124, Rb 0.7–12, Sr 41–58, Zn 18–48.     

Searching the most appropriate sample pretreatment for the elemental analysis of wines by inductively coupled plasma-based techniques

Different sample preparation methods were evaluated for the simultaneous multielement analysis of wine samples by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Microwave-assisted digestion in closed vessel, thermal digestion in open reactor, and direct sample dilution were considered for the determination of Li, Be, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Tl, Pb, and Bi in 12 samples of red wine from Valencia and Utiel-Requena protected designation of origin. ICP-MS allows the determination of 17 elements in most of the samples, and using ICP-OES, a maximum of 15 elements were determined. On comparing the sample pretreatment methodology, it can be concluded that the three assayed procedures provide comparable results for the concentration of Li, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Sr by ICP-OES. Furthermore, ICP-MS data found for Cu, Pb, and Ba were comparable. Digestion treatment provides comparable values using both total decomposition in open system and microwave-assisted treatment for Cu by ICP-OES and for Cr, Ni, and Zn by ICP-MS. Open vessel total digestion provides excess values for Cr, Mn, Fe, and Zn by ICP-OES and defect values for Se. However, direct measurement of diluted wine samples provided uncomparable results with the digestion treatment for Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ba, and Bi by ICP-OES and for Mg, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Zn by ICP-MS. Therefore, it can be concluded that microwave-assisted digestion is the pretreatment procedure of choice for elemental analysis of wine by ICP-based techniques.