Determination of Arsenic(III) and Total Arsenic at Trace Levels in Baby Food Samples via a New Functionalized Magnetic Graphane Oxide Nanocomposite

Baby food safety is an essential issue in health policy. For this reason, a simple, cheap, and fast analytical procedure to developed arsenic(III) and total arsenic determination in baby food samples using functionalized magnetic graphane oxide nanocomposite. A new nanocomposite anchored of tiopronin (TSH) magnetic graphane oxide (GO-PG4@Fe3O4-TSH) was first synthesized/characterized and used as an adsorbent to determine arsenic(III) and total arsenic for baby food samples. Arsenic(III) was directly determined on GO-PG4@Fe3O4-TSH nanocomposite at pH 4.5. The determination of total arsenic used KI and L( +) ascorbic acid solution as reducing reagents. The parameters influential on arsenic(III) determination in the baby food samples including the sample's pH, adsorption time, amount of GO-PG4@Fe3O4-TSH, eluent type, sample volume, reducing reagent type and amount, and also foreign ion effect were investigated. The GO-PG4@Fe3O4-TSH carrying As(III) could easily be separated from baby food samples via applying an external magnetic field. The detection limit for arsenic(III) was found as 0.11 mu g L-1, while the limit of quantification values was computed as 0.37 mu g L-1. The precision of results, expressed as relative standard deviation, was always lower than 1.6% at 1 mg L-1 As(III) levels. The accuracy of this method was confirmed by analysis of certified reference material. The method was successively applied to determine arsenic(III) and total arsenic in baby food samples.

Automated summary

The importance of baby food safety in health policy has led to the development of a simple, affordable, and fast analytical procedure for determining arsenic(III) and total arsenic in food samples. A new nanocomposite was synthesized and used as an adsorbent to successfully determine arsenic(III) and total arsenic in baby food samples, with various parameters being investigated. The method showed excellent precision and accuracy, with detection limits and quantification values meeting the required standards.