APPLICABILITY OF ICP-OES, UV-VIS, AND FT-IR METHODS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COFFEE PRODUCTS

摘要

Spectroscopic methods were applied to study and compare the nutrient composition of ground, instant, and chicory coffee products. The total concentrations of 17 elements, including major (Ca, Mg, P) and trace (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Ti, Zn) elements were determined in solid samples and infusions from ground coffee by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic optical spectrometry (ICP-OES). For measurement of As and Se levels, hydride generation technique (HG-ICP-OES) was used. The accuracy of the element measurements was verified by the analysis of certified reference materials (tea leaves (INCT-TL-1), apple leaves (1515), and TORT-2). Caffeine was determined by UV spectrometry. Infrared spectroscopy was applied to investigate organic matter of the coffees. Soluble oxalate was determined by a redox titration. Additionally, measurements of some physico-chemical parameters such as moisture, ash, pH, and starch (coffee adulteration) were performed. Differences in the composition of analyzed ground and instant coffees based on the contents of caffeine, oxalate, and minerals such as Cu, Mg, P, and Zn were found. FT-IR spectroscopy was a suitable tool to characterize the presence of caffeine and oxalate.