Iodine determination in food samples using inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry.

Two different sample treatment methods are used in connection with inductively coupled plasma isotope dilution mass spectrometry for accurate and precise determinations of iodine traces in food samples. 129I-enriched iodate is applied as a spike compound for the isotope dilution step. Extraction of iodine by tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution at high temperatures in a closed vessel is one of the sample treatment methods. The other one is a complete decomposition of the sample with a mixture of perchloric acid and nitric acid using microwave assistance. By analyzing different certified reference materials (three milk powders with different iodine levels, BCR CRM 63, 150, and 151; bovine liver BCR CRM 185), the accuracy of ICP-IDMS with both sample treatment methods could be demonstrated. The relative standard deviation was typically in the range of 0.6-2.8% for iodine concentrations between 0.1 microgram g-1 and 5 micrograms g-1. The detection limit was 8 ng g-1 using sample weights of 0.8 g. In a round robin test, using two different types of infant food samples, the results of the two ICP-IDMS methods and of an ICP-MS method without the isotope dilution technique, but applying the TMAH extraction procedure, agree very well with the mean of results of all participating laboratories also using ICP-MS/TMAH. However, the ICP-IDMS method is faster, more precise, widely independent of matrix effects, and, therefore, relatively accurate, which makes this method especially attractive for use as a routine method.