DETERMINATION OF NA, K, CA, MG, CU, FE, MN AND TOTAL CATIONIC MILLIEQUIVALENTS IN SPANISH COMMERCIAL HONEYS

Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and manganese contents, total ash content and total cationic milliequivalents in 21 samples of Spanish commercial honeys were determined after calcination of the samples and dissolution of the ash obtained in 0.1 N hydrochloric acid. Sodium and potassium concentrations were determined by atomic emission spectrophotometry; interference between sodium and potassium was corrected using a method based upon multiple linear regression. The other individual cations were determined using standard methods. When comparing measurements of the total cationic milliequivalents obtained by ion exchange chromatography and those obtained by summation of the individual cation determinations, linear regression analysis showed no evidence for systematic differences between the two sets of results. The mean value for ash (% wt/wt) was 0.192 and the mean values for the cations (mg/kg of honey) were: Na, 98; K, 653; Ca, 88; Mg, 38; Cu, 0.62; Fe, 5.3; Mn, 1.92.