Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the composition, contents and distribution characteristics of mineral
elements in Vigna minima seeds. The contents of eighteen mineral elements such as Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, etc
were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) after microwave digestion. The
results showed that no significant mutual interference was found among the tested elements. Good linear relationship was
found for all of them (r ≥ 0.995 0). The limits of detection and quantization were 0.000 1–0.035 μg/mL and 0.000 17–0.058 μg/mL,
respectively. The average recovery rates were 97.08%–113.06%, with a relative standard deviation of 0.14%–3.2% (n = 6). Vigna
minima seeds contained significant amounts of beneficial trace elements including Mg, Ca, Fe, Na, Zn and Mn. Generally,
the ICP-AES method war fast, sensitive and simple, and could be used to simultaneously determine eighteen mineral
elements in Vigna minima seeds with satisfactory analytical results.

Key words: Vigna minima, microwave digestion, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICPAES), mineral elements