DETERMINATION OF VANADIUM IN FOODS BY ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

This paper presents an assessment of the level of vanadium in foods (Plantain, Musa spp; Yam, Discorea rotundata; and Maize, Zea mays) from ten popular market places in Lagos metropolis, Nigeria. Total acid leaching digestion method was employed and determination was by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The concentration of the metal obtained ranged from 0.01 ± 0.001 (M 3 ) - 0.62 ± 0.002 (M 2 ) for Musa spp; 0.02 ± 0.001 (M 3 , M 5 , M 9 ) - 0.41 ± 0.002 (M 3 ) for Discorea rotundata; and 0.01 ± 0.001 (M 1 ) - 0.35 ± 0.001 (M 6 ) for Zea mays. The overall mean concentrations of the metal were 0.19, 0.13 and 0.09mg g -1 in the same food order. The quality assurance of the analytical protocol was in the range of 91.5 - 98.1 % with C.V. of between 1.5 – 3.4%, which was adjudged acceptable for the analytical protocol. Vanadium was detected in all analysed foods with some elevated concentrations. Key Words: Vanadium, foods, AAS, coal, city, terminals African Journal of Science and Technology Vol.5(1) 2004: 15-21