Determination of arsenic in cocoa [Theobroma cacao] beans by hydride generation with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

The determination of arsenic content in cocoa beans and nibs by hydride generation with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry after a dry ashing procedure was investigated. The detection limit of arsenic in cocoa beans was 0.004 ug g-1 and a RSD of 4% was obtained from fifteen replicates of one sample. Analysis of NBS standard reference materials by the same method gives results within 95% confidence interval of the certified value. The proposed method gives reliable and quantitative determination of arsenic in cocoa beans and nibs.