Enriching Feedstock of Functional Food with Nanosized Selenium

Abstract

A study is performed of dispersion processes for obtaining selenium colloidal solutions via laser ablation, an ultrasonic bath, an ultrasonic rod vibration system, and mechanical action in order to determine the effectiveness of using colloidal solutions of nanosized selenium. Means are developed for quantitatively determining concentrations of selenium and inorganic components of plant feedstock through inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry (ICP–AES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Analytical parameters are obtained for the determination of elements, and the conditions of spectrometer operation are optimized. The chosen means of sample preparation are stepwise microwave heating in a Mars 5 autoclave system. Matrix interference is revealed, and ways of allowing for it are determined. It is established that using ICP–AES and AAS analysis with complementary analytical techniques allows control of the Se content and mineral composition of the feedstock for functional food—matrix elements (Ca, K, Na, Mg, Al, Si, and Fe), concomitant microelements (Ag, B, Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sr, and Zn), and toxic elements (As, Be, Bi, Cd, Cr, Li, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, V, and W)—in a wide range of concentrations—1 × 10⁻⁶ to n × 10%—with no matrix separation or use of certified solid reference samples. It is shown that the proposed means of analytical control can be used to create fundamentally new ways of enriching feedstock for functional food with nanosized selenium.