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Different Aspects of the Elemental Analysis of Honey by Flame Atomic Absorption and Emission Spectrometry: A Review

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Abstract

The elemental composition of honey is correlated with the botanical provenience of nectar, pollen, and honeydew that are collected and ripened by bees. In addition to this, the geographical origin related to the locality of an apiary, the soil composition, and climatic conditions may contribute to the origin of elements in honey. The environmental pollution or other anthropogenic processes and activities also have an effect on the quality and the safety of honey since they may be accompanying sources that lead to its contamination and the presence of various trace elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn). This review article covers the literature devoted to the analysis of honey carried out by the most popular and commonly utilized flame atomic absorption and emission spectrometry, which was published from 1999 to 2011. Various aspects of such analysis are treated in detail, including ways of the sample preparation, the calibration, and the quality assurance of results. In addition, methods and results related to the fractionation analysis of elements in honey by means of chromatographic and non-chromatographic approaches are described.

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Acknowledgments

Iwona Sergiel is a scholar within Sub-measure 8.2.2 “Regional Innovation Strategies”, Measure 8.2 “Transfer of Knowledge, Priority VIII “Regional Human Resources” of the Economy Human Capital Operational Programme co-financed by the European Social Fund, and the state budget of Poland. Pawel Pohl and Iwona Sergiel acknowledge the financial support from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (grant no. 3270/B/P01/2011/40).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wybrzeze Stanislawa Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland

    Pawel Pohl, Helena Stecka & Piotr Jamroz

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Gora, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65-516, Zielona Gora, Poland

    Iwona Sergiel

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  1. Pawel Pohl
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  2. Helena Stecka
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Correspondence to Pawel Pohl.

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Pohl, P., Stecka, H., Sergiel, I. et al. Different Aspects of the Elemental Analysis of Honey by Flame Atomic Absorption and Emission Spectrometry: A Review. Food Anal. Methods 5, 737–751 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-011-9309-y

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