STEP Temperature (˚C) Time (min) Power (W)
1 50 2 1000
2 30 3 0
3 180 25 1000
4 150 1 0
5 180 4 1000
6 180 15 1000
Application
News
No.J122
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Analysis of Heavy Metals in Pet Food Using the
ICPMS-2030
LAAN-A-CP-E035
Q Introduction
In Japan, a law related to ensuring the safety of pet
food (the Pet Food Safety Law) was enacted on June 1,
2009. Based on this law, standards are prescribed
regarding the raising and safekeeping of domestic
animals, show animals, farm animals, and test animals
respectively to ensure the health and safety of the
animals, and at the same time to prevent the animals
from causing people problems or harm. The
manufacture, sale, and import of pet food not in
accordance with the regulations are prohibited, and
manufacturers, vendors, and importers must comply
with the component standards.
A ministerial ordinance regarding component standards
for pet food was also enacted on March 1, 2012 in
Japan. This ordinance specifies three heavy metals;
cadmium, lead, and arsenic.
Here, we introduce a simultaneous analysis performed
on toxic elements in pet food using the Shimadzu
ICPMS-2030 ICP mass spectrometer.
Q Sample
Commercially available pet food
Q Sample Preparation
We used the microwave digestion method that could
decompose samples faster than the typically used wet
digestion method. Since this method uses a closed
vessel, it also has the advantage that loss of volatile
elements such as arsenic is minimal. In this study, the
sample was decomposed using the Milestone General
ETHOS-One.
0.15 g of the sample, 0.5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and
6.5 mL of nitric acid were added to a quartz vessel of
the microwave digestion system for sample preparation.
The mixture was then decomposed by the microwave
digestion system.
After sample decomposition, pure water was added to
bring the measurement solution to a volume of 30 mL.
At this point, Ga, In, and Bi (at a 10 μg/L concentration
in measurement solution) were added as the internal
standard elements.
The sample decomposition conditions are shown in
Table 1.
Table 1 Sample Decomposition Conditions Using the Microwave
Digestion System for Sample Preparation
Q Instrument and Analytical Conditions
The Shimadzu ICPMS-2030 ICP mass spectrometer was
used for the measurements. Table 2 shows the
measurement conditions.
In addition to providing high sensitivity, the
ICPMS-2030 is equipped with a collision system using
helium gas, which reduces interference from argon and
chlorine significantly.
Instrument : ICPMS-2030
High-frequency output : 1.2 kW
Plasma gas flowrate : 8.0 L/min
Auxiliary gas flowrate : 1.10 L/min
Carrier gas flowrate : 0.60 L/min
Nebulizer : Nebulizer 10
Chamber : Cyclone chamber (electronically cooled)
Plasma torch : Mini torch
Collision gas : He
Table 2 Analytical Conditions
