Determination of Nine Elements in Sherry Wine by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry

A quick and simple method was developed to analyze various "fino" sherry wines for routine determination of Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn content. The analysis involved heating the wine sample in an oven at 80°C to evaporate the ethanol, followed by sequential determination of the elements by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The following metal concentrations (mg/L) were obtained: Al, 1.02-4.06; Ca, 85.00-150.00; Cu, 0.06-1.62; Fe, 2.19-4.91; K, 435.02-651.65; Mg, 79.1-108.57; Mn, 0.37-2.13; Na, 27.09-54.26; and Zn, 0.12-5.08. Mean recoveries of elements from fortified wines were 101.6% for Al, 103.6% for Ca, 97.4% for Cu, 100.3% for Fe, 100.7% for K, 103.6% for Mg, 99.1% for Mn, 105.7% for Na, and 99.99% for Zn. The estimated detection limits were 15.2 μg Al/L, 39.9 μg Ca/L, 20.1 μg Cu/L, 19.1 μg Fe/L, 116.4 μg K/L, 20.3 μg Mg/L, 20.2 μg Mn/L, 34.6 μg Na/L, and 25.4 μg Zn/L. The repeatability relative standard deviation ranged from 1.1 (Mg) to 5.3% (Na), and the reproducibility relative standard deviation ranged from 2.0 (Mg) to 9.3% (Al). The results were compared with those obtained y flame atomic absorption spectrometry and, for Al, by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. By the method for regression lines we demonstrated that no differences in concentrations were obtained for any of the elements assayed. The proposed method is rapid and simple, needs only a small amount of sample, and has acceptable analytical characteristics.