Quantitative Analysis of Major Elements in Food Based on A Novel Hollow Electrode DC Glow Discharge Ion Source

The content of major elements in food is an important indicator of nutritional value and food security, so it is significant to accurately detect the content of major elements in food. In this paper, a novel hollow electrode DC glow discharge ion source was designed. The experimental platform of ‘tube combustion furnace + quadrupole mass spectrometer’ was set up to detect the content of major elements in food. Five food samples were selected and combusted in a high temperature (960°C) oxygen-enriched environment using a tube combustion furnace. The gas products were passed into a novel hollow electrode DC glow discharge ion source for ionization. The selected ion scanning function of quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to detect CO ₂ ⁺ ions, NO ⁺ ions and H ₂ O ⁺ ions, and the standard curves were plotted to obtain the detection limits of 22 µg/g for carbon, 59 µg/g for nitrogen and 28 µg/g for hydrogen with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 1.1–4.5%. It provides a rapid, accurate and environmentally friendly method for the determination of major elements in food.