Determination of the trace element content in Bulgarian bottled potable waters by total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis

Abstract

The content of S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb and Ba in several brands of Bulgarian bottled potable waters ("Savina" table, "Gorna Banya" mineral, "Bankya" mineral, "Kom" mineral, "Thorn Spring" mineral, "Hissar" mineral, "Devin" spring and mineral and "Mihalkovo" spring and mineral) was determined by total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis using gallium as internal standard. The spring waters generally displayed lower mineralization (total dissolved solids, TDS content) than the mineral waters, even those originating from the same location. The content of S, Cl, K and Ca was at the mg L -1 level, while that of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb and Baat the lower µg L -1 level. The trace element content of the mineral waters did not considerably change (less than ±30 % difference) over a storage period of approx. 2.5 years after bottling