TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF RICE BY XRF

The analysis of trace elements in rice is a vitally important area of research, given the vast numbers of people who depend on it as a major food source. X-ray florescence (XRF) spectrometry has emerged as an invaluable tool for this application. XRF delivers many advantages over conventional trace element measurement techniques, including rapid, accurate and precise analysis; together with very simple sample preparation. Worldwide, more than 415 million metric tonnes of rice was consumed in 2006-2007, making it one of the world?s most important crops. Rice is a staple food for around half the world?s population. It provides the major source of calories, particularly in Asian countries. In Korea, for example, around 400g of rice is consumed per person per day [1]. With more than 30 billion people dependent on rice as a substantial part of their diet, the analysis and monitoring of its composition is vital. The determination of trace elements is a particularly important area in terms of both nutrition and toxicology. This article presents data on the use of XRF spectroscopy for the analysis of trace elements in rice.