In the making of the thesis, the method of preparation of insect samples with microwave digestion was optimized for the determination of multi-elemental composition with ICP-MS. Two insect samples were used, i.e., the mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) and the house cricket (Acheta domesticus). Besides that, three standard reference materials were used: SRM Oyster Tissue-1566b, SRM Typical Diet-1548a and SRM Mussel Tissue 2976, however tha latter was not included in the data processing. Optimization of the sample preparation was caried out on the basis of changing the masses of samples and standard referance materials and volumes of different reagents for decomposition. Three different masses of material were tested: 0,1 g; 0,2 g; 0,4 g. The volumes of the reagents varied as follows: HNO3 (67 %-69 %): 1 mL; 2 mL; 4 mL, H2O2 (30 %): 0 mL; 0,25 mL; 0,5 mL; 1 mL and HF (40 %): 0 µL; 10 µL; 20 µL; 30 µL. Using a combination of these parameters, nine different methods of sample preparation were than constructed. Each time samples were digested using a microwave digestion system with a set program: 20 min temperature rise to 240 °C, digestion for 15 min at 240 °C and 100 bar and 30 min cooling and pressure reduction. The concentrations of the following elements were then measured in the digested solutions using ICP-MS technique: sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, aluminum, vanadium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt, arsenic, selenium, silver, cadmium and lead. Calibration curves were prepared with standard solutions of these elements in the following concentration ranges: 0; 0,05; 0,100; 0,500; 1,00; 5,00; 10,0; 50,0 in 100 ng/mL for the first seven listed elements and: 0; 1,00; 5,00; 10,00; 50,0; 100; 500; 1000 in 2000 ng/mL for other elements. The results were than statisticly processed. Average recoveries for the two standard referance materials were than calculated and control charts for selected elements were created. Furthermore, relative standard deviations and their averages were calculated for concentrations of elements in both samples. Based on the best recoveries and smallest relative standard deviations, the most optimal of the nine methods of sample preparation for microwave digestion was then determined. That was a method that used 0,1 g of sample or standard referance material, 1 mL of HNO3 and 0,25 mL of H2O2.
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