Determination of the hydrophobic fraction of Ca, Fe, Mg and Zn in dark color honeys using solid phase extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

In this study, the hydrophobic fraction of Ca, Fe, Mg and Zn in dark honeys was assessed by means of solid phase extraction using silica gel based material with monomerically bonded phenyl active groups (Discovery® DSC-Ph tubes). It was found that Fe is associated with this fraction, likely polyphenolic compounds, to the highest degree. The contribution of the hydrophobic fraction to the total content of this element in analyzed honeys accounted for 7-43%. The reliability of these results was verified using for solid phase extraction silica gel based material with polymerically bonded octadecyl active groups (Superclean™ ENVI DSC-18). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was established between the concentration of Fe in the hydrophobic fraction assessed and the optical density of dark honeys, indicating a possible contribution of blue complexes of this metal with phenolic substances to the overall color of honey. © 2012 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.