The suitability of various sample preparation procedures, i.e., total decomposition in a HNO3/H2O2 mixture by hot-plate heating, partial decomposition by means of solubilization in aqua regia and dilution with low concentrated HNO3 solution, for determination of the total content of Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, Sr and Zn in energy drinks using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) was compared. The criterion was the performance of each method referred to precision, accuracy of results and limits of detection of elements obtained by ICP OES. Best results were provided by the simplest and the fastest dilution of analyzed samples through a diluted HNO3 solution, with limits of detection of elements within 0.08-42.0 ng mL-1, precision of 0.5-3% and accuracy better than 5%. Six commercial energy drinks were analyzed with the proposed procedure.
energy drinks; sample preparation; multi-element analysis; ICP OES
