title: An attempt to correlate fat and protein content of biological samples with residual carbon after microwave-assisted digestion.
abstract: The residual carbon content of a variety of bovine-derived samples and forage was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry with radial view configuration (ICP-OES) after microwave-assisted digestion under high pressure in a closed vessel. The original carbon concentration in the samples was determined by elemental analysis. The highest amount of original carbon content (64%) was found in viscera. After digestion, up to 75% of it was destroyed. Viscera presented the highest ether extract and blood exhibited a high crude protein content of up to 99%. The efficiency in destroying the organic matter in biological materials seemed to be related to their fat content and showed no significant difficulty for protein-rich samples. The correlation coefficient between the fat content of the samples and the residual carbon after acid decomposition was 0.9173 indicating a fair fit. However, no correlation was observed between % RC and the protein content.
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos-SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Carrilho
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle; D004986:Ether / Q000737:chemistry; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis*; D008872:Microwaves; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005223:Fats; D011506:Proteins; D004986:Ether; D002244:Carbon