Efficiency of two digestion methods in determining the presence of metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn) in geopropolis produced by Melipona scutellaris

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficiency of acid extraction and total digestion to determine the presence of metals in geopropolis produced by the stingless bee Melipona scutellaris. Geopropolis samples were collected at five meliponaries in the city and in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. The sample treatment methods comprised acid extraction and total digestion. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP OES) technique was used to quantify Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn. Geopropolis samples submitted to both digestion methods showed statistical differences. For both methods, Cr and Zn showed the highest concentrations, while those of Cd were the lowest. The Cr concentration for determination by total digestion was 37.53 mg/kg, while for acid extraction it was 32.90 mg/kg. For Zn, the concentration was 17.65 mg/kg and 8.85 mg/kg for total digestion and acid extraction, respectively. The total digestion method showed the highest concentrations of the metals evaluated; however, acid extraction (USEPA 3050b) is a more straightforward procedure for metal evaluation in geopropolis samples and presented values that support the use of geopropolis as a bioindicator. The acid extraction method USEPA 3050b, in combination with detection using ICP OES, showed efficiency in analyses carried out to determine metals in geopropolis.