Determination and Comparative Assessment of Selected Metal Elements in Sugar Samples Using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Abstract

Sugar is a widely consumed food commodity and serves as an important ingredient in a variety of products, including beverages, confectionery, bakery items, and other processed foods. Consequently, maintaining the chemical safety and quality of sugar is essential for protecting consumer health. Despite the multiple processing and refining stages involved in sugar production, trace elements can potentially enter or persist in the final product through several sources, including raw materials, agricultural inputs, soil, irrigation and process water, environmental exposure, processing equipment, packaging materials, and storage conditions. For elemental analysis, the prepared and digested sugar samples were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) equipped with an appropriate sample introduction system and, where required, collision/reaction cell technology. The instrument was operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended procedures and subjected to routine daily optimization before sample analysis. The elements selected for investigation included chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg).

The ICP-MS operating conditions were optimized to achieve high analytical sensitivity, precision, and instrumental stability. Key parameters, including radio-frequency (RF) power, plasma gas flow, auxiliary gas flow, nebulizer gas flow, sample uptake rate, acquisition time, number of replicate measurements, and collision/reaction gas conditions, were systematically adjusted according to the analytical requirements. These optimized conditions were subsequently applied for the determination and quantification of the selected elements in the sugar samples.