ABSTRACT:
The present research work describes a microwave-assisted digestion procedure using a new digestion mixture Nitric Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide (4:1) for the determination of Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Nickel in Catfish samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The optimization conditions involve the following factors: Theamount of Catfish (ACF), the microwave power (MP) and the power time (PT). The experimental results of these factors were carried out on local Catfish consumed in Syria. The relative standard deviations of the method were found to be not more than 3.97% for the five studied elements. The proposed method was used for the determination of Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Nickel in muscle tail and skin of species of common local Catfish consumed in Syria. The concentrations of the analyzed Catfish samples were varied in muscle for Manganese, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Nickel, between 0.82 – 1.55,32.00 – 43.18, 31.50 – 41.00, 1.04 – 1.54 and 0.67 – 0.80 (µg/g) respectively, in tail between 1.13 –1.81, 31.60 – 52.40, 42.40 – 49.80, 1.30 – 1.67 and 0.65 – 0.83 (µg/g) respectively, and in skin between 2.03 – 2.41, 60.79 –64.51, 65.30 – 76.94, 1.29 – 1.69 and 0.75 – 0.99 (µg/g) respectively.