Nutritional Supplement Composition and Trace Elements in Animal Feed

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Nutritional Supplement Composition and Trace
Elements in Animal Feed

• Elizabeth Sutton1, Hillary Cimino2,John
  Schaumloffel3
• 1 Departments of Chemistry Biochemistry and
  Human Ecology
• 2 Department of Biology
• 3 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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Why are Trace Elements Important?

• Elements such as Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca),
  Zinc (Zn), Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), Lead (Pb),
  Selenium (Se), and Chromium (Cr) are present in
  both Animal and Human Food Supplies
• Trace Elements are Needed in Diets in Low
  Concentrations (for both Humans and Farm Animals)
• Deficiencies in Trace Elements can have Negative
  Impacts on Growth, Fertility, Health, and
  Production (in Agricultural Settings)
• Excessive Amounts of Certain Elements, Such as
  Lead, Can Also Lead to Health Problems

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Samples Analyzed
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Methods Microwave Digestion

• Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission
  Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) Requires Samples to be in
  Solution
• Samples were Weighed into Teflon Lined Digestion
  Bombs. 10 mL Nitric Acid was Added, Bombs were
  Sealed.
• Bombs were Irradiated for 20 Minutes at 1200
  Watts then Held at 1200 Watts for an Additional
  10 Minutes (195?C and 195 PSI)
• Bombs were Cooled, Opened and Samples were
  Transferred to 100 mL Volumetric Flasks and
  Diluted

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Methods ICP-AES Analysis

• ICP-AES uses a hot plasma (6000-10000K) to excite
  atoms and ions to higher energy levels. When the
  atoms return to lower energy levels they emit
  light. Each element emits specific wavelengths of
  light. The intensity of the light is proportional
  to the amount of the element present.
• Standards were prepared from 1000 ppm stock
  solutions
• The ICP-AES was programmed with sample weights
  and dilution factors in order to calculate
  concentrations in the original solid samples
• The ICP-AES was calibrated using a set of
  standards and a calibration blank. The ICP-AES
  software created a calibration curve for each
  element
• Sample solutions are analyzed after the
  calibration has been validated.

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Example Calibration Curve
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Varian Liberty II ICP-AES and CEM Microwave
Accelerated Reaction System MARS V
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Method Validation SRM Analysis
Blue Ciminos Results Green Suttons Results
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Results in µg/g or ppm Cimino
ND Not Detected
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Results in µg/g or ppm Sutton
ND Not Detected
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Conclusions

• Analysis of the SRM produced results generally in
  the expected ranges. However, a non-ideal SRM
  (e.g. a food material would have been ideal) was
  not digested due to a labeling error by Dr. S.
• Phosphorus was found in high concentration in the
  sample of silage. This could contribute to excess
  phosphorus in agricultural runoff and negative
  environmental impacts such as the eutrophication
  of lakes.
• Chromium was found in unusually high
  concentrations in the Herbal Dexatrim sample.
  Excess chromium has been found to contribute to
  digestive tract complications.

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Acknowledgements

• Dean Merilan and Dr. Chiang for providing the
  ICP-AES standards.
• Dr. Chiang and the Chemistry Biochemistry
  Department for providing argon gas and other
  reagents and consumables.
• Mrs. Barnes and Mr. Polley for technical and
  materials support.
• NSF MRI GRANT EAR0215734 for the acquisition of
  the ICP-AES, microwave digestion system and
  accessories.
• This project completed as part of CHEM 299
  independent study projects.