Peanuts can be effectively digested by treatment with concentrated sulfuric acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide in
approximately 30 min for the rapid determination of iron and copper by flame atomic absorption spectrometry
Ž . AAS . Under optimum conditions, the results of the analysis of peanut sample solutions by aqueous standard
calibration graphs agree well with those obtained by the AOAC’s recommended method. Recoveries ranged from 99
to 101% and the relative standard deviation is approximately 1%. The proposed method is applied to the
Ž y1. Ž y1 determination of iron 38 mg g and copper 10 mg g in peanut samples. . Q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights
reserved.