The Content of Heavy Metals and
Some Inorganic Cations in White Sugar

Biljana D. Škrbić1, Svetlana D. Čupić2, Jelena D. Cvejanov1, and Nada R. Miljević2

1 Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia
2 Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Corresponding author: Prof. Biljana Škrbić
    University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology
    Bulevar cara Lazara 1
    YU-21000 Novi Sad, Yugoslavia
    Telephone: (+381) 21 450288
    Fax number: (+381) 21 450413
    E-mail address: biljana@tehnol.ns.ac.yu

CEJOEM 2002, Vol.8. No.2–3.:142–146

Key words:
Beet sugar, inorganic cations, heavy metals, atomic absorption spectroscopy

Abstract:
Heavy metals and cations of alkali and alkaline earth metals were analyzed in refined beet sugar, taken as composite sample from bulk storage sugar silos and representing the quality of white sugar produced from beet of the South Bačka (Yugoslavia) region. The flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique was employed for determination of inorganic cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, expressed in mg/kg). The content of Pb, As, Cd, (in mg/kg) and Cu and Fe (in mg/kg) was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer equipped with graphite furnace, and Hg (in mg/kg) with hydride generation. The major cation constituent turned out to be Ca2+, while the concentrations of heavy metals in white sugar were negligible.

Received:  3 July 2002
Accepted:  17 September 2002
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