Dilute-and-shoot procedure for the determination of mineral constituents in vinegar samples by axially viewed inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES).

Samples of commercial wine vinegar were introduced in an axially viewed inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instrument (AX-ICP OES) equipped with different sample introduction systems: a cross-flow nebulizer combined with a double-path spray chamber (CF-DP) and cone spray associated with a cyclone spray chamber (CS-CC). Samples of white and red wine vinegar were diluted with water before analysis. Higher magnesium Mg II/Mg I ratios (11 and 10 for CS-CC and CF-DP, respectively) were obtained using a nebulization gas flow rate of 0.6 l min-1 and an applied power of 1.3 kW. The background equivalent concentrations (BEC) and signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of analytes were improved using scandium (Sc) as the internal standard. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) for mineral constituents were similar for both introduction systems. Best recoveries values were obtained using a plasma under robust conditions, CS-CC system and Sc as the internal standard. The concentration determined in 13 commercial samples of wine vinegars varied between 0.2 and 3.0, between 0.02 and 0.4, between 8.5 and 100.0, between 0.01 and 0.05, between 27.0 and 540.0, between 4.0 and 79.0, between 0.4 and 10.0, and between 0.01 and 2.0 for aluminium (Al), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn), respectively.