Skip to content

Elements & Ions

Analysis of toxic elements, essential minerals and ionic species across complex matrices.

Request Analysis
Contact Us
Automated laboratory autosampler with vials arranged in a circular tray.

From Trace Contaminants to Essential Minerals

Close-up of the cadmium symbol on the periodic table in a technical background.

Elemental and ionic analysis spans multiple analytical objectives within the same matrix. Trace contaminants such as lead, cadmium, mercury or arsenic are determined at regulatory limits, while essential minerals like calcium, iron, zinc or selenium require accurate quantification for nutritional evaluation.

Ionic species add further analytical relevance in safety assessment and quality control. Analytical performance is driven by concentration range, matrix composition and, where applicable, chemical form.

Parameter Portfolio

Complementary analytical categories covering elemental and ionic parameters relevant to food safety, nutritional labelling, water quality, and regulatory compliance across food, feed, and water matrices.

Heavy Metals

Toxic and potentially toxic elements with legally binding maximum levels under Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Determination at trace and ultra‑trace level using ICP‑MS, including element‑specific methods for regulatory differentiation.

Methods: ICP‑MS, AAS

Common analytes: Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (total & inorganic), Nickel (Ni), Tin (Sn), Aluminium (Al), Antimony (Sb), Chromium (Cr)

Minerals

Macro minerals relevant for nutritional labelling and declaration under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Quantification for label compliance, fortification control and dietary supplement assessment.

Methods: ICP‑MS, AAS

Common analytes: Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Sodium chloride (NaCl, calculated)

Trace Elements

Essential trace elements required in small amounts for physiological functions. Determination for nutritional labelling, dietary supplement testing, fortification verification and feed premix analysis.

Methods: ICP‑MS

Common analytes: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Selenium (Se), Iodine (I), Manganese (Mn), Chromium (Cr), Molybdenum (Mo), Cobalt (Co), Boron (B), Lithium (Li)

Anions & Cations

Inorganic anions and cations relevant for drinking water compliance (TrinkwV), process water quality and matrix‑specific food parameters.

Methods: Ion Chromatography (IC)

Common analytes: Fluoride, Chloride, Bromide, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulphate, Phosphate, Chlorate, Chlorite, Bromate, Ammonium, Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium

Analytical Scope

Method selection is driven by the element, its concentration range, the required chemical speciation and the matrix. Select an application area to access the corresponding elemental and ionic parameters, analytical methods and regulatory context.

Contaminant Compliance

Verification of heavy metal maximum levels in food and feed according to Regulation (EU) 2023/915. Typical applications include lead in cocoa, cadmium in cereals, mercury in fish, inorganic arsenic in rice and nickel in food.

Illustration Contaminant Compliance

Nutritional Labelling

Determination of mineral and trace element content for nutrition declaration under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Covers sodium (including salt calculation), calcium, iron, zinc and potassium for mandatory and voluntary labelling.

Illustration Nutritional Labelling

Dietary Supplement Testing

Content verification and contaminant screening of dietary supplements, including capsules, tablets, powders and liquids. Confirmation of declared mineral and trace element content and screening for lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

Illustration Dietary Supplement Testing

Drinking Water Compliance

Elemental and ionic analysis according to German TrinkwV. Includes heavy metals, minerals, anions and cations for compliance monitoring. Accredited sampling and analysis.

Illustration Drinking Water Compliance

Feed & Premix Analysis

Determination of minerals and trace elements in compound feed, mineral premixes and pet food. Verification of declared contents and compliance with feed additive authorisations and maximum levels for undesirable substances.

Illustration Feed and Premix Analysis

Food Contact Material Testing

Specific migration testing of metals from food contact materials.

Illustration Food Contact Material Testing

Matrices We Analyse

Our elemental and ionic analysis covers a wide range of food, feed, water and environmental matrices. Matrix‑specific performance parameters depend on analyte, composition and regulatory requirements.

Selection of food products and raw materials representing typical matrices for heavy metal, mineral and trace element analysis.

Food & Ingredients

Determination of heavy metals, minerals, trace elements and other elemental parameters in food products and raw materials to support product safety, nutritional labelling and quality control.

Example matrices: Cereals, nuts, oilseeds, spices, herbs, cocoa, coffee, tea, fruit, vegetables, confectionery, edible oils, meat, fish, seafood.

Blue scoop filled with powdered infant formula.

Infant Formula & Foods for Special Medical Purposes

Analysis of minerals, trace elements and contaminants in highly regulated product categories with stringent safety and compliance requirements.

Example matrices: Infant formula, follow-on formula, baby cereals, complementary foods, foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), clinical nutrition products, specialised nutrition products

Spoon filled with rabbit feed pellets for sale in a forage store.

Feed & Pet Food

Determination of essential minerals and trace elements as well as screening for potential contaminants in feed materials and pet food products.

Example matrices: Feed materials, compound feed, mineral feed, premixes, pet food.

Glass of water on a bright white surface.

Water & Environmental Samples

Analysis of metals, anions and cations for water quality monitoring, regulatory compliance and environmentally relevant investigations.

Example matrices: Drinking water, raw water, process water, wastewater, environmental samples.

Regulatory Framework

The assessment of elements and ionic species spans multiple regulatory frameworks – from contaminant maximum levels and nutritional labelling requirements to drinking water and feed legislation.

The same analytical parameter may fall under entirely different regulatory requirements depending on the product context. While arsenic or lead are regulated as contaminants, other elements may be assessed as declared minerals or essential trace elements. The analytical measurement remains the same; the regulatory interpretation does not. 

 

Talk to Our Experts

Regulation (EU) 2023/915
Establishes maximum levels for certain contaminants in food, including lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic arsenic, inorganic tin and nickel.

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 (FIC)
Governs nutrition labelling requirements for food products. Minerals and trace elements may be declared on labels when specific regulatory criteria are met.

Directive 2002/32/EC
Defines maximum levels for undesirable substances in animal feed, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and fluorine.

Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006
Regulates the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods, including the use of permitted mineral sources.

UK Regulatory Framework (Retained EU Law)
Defines requirements for elemental contaminants, minerals, trace elements and water quality parameters for products placed on the Great Britain market.

Related Analytics

Liquid being dropped into a test tube during laboratory research.

Chemical Contaminants

Process‑ and environment‑related contaminants such as acrylamide, 3‑MCPD, PAH, dioxins/PCBs and PFAS. Can be combined with heavy metal analysis for comprehensive food safety assessment.

Learn More
Magnifying glass over a nutrition facts label on food packaging.

Nutrition

Mineral content forms a core component of nutritional labelling. Elemental analysis can be combined with proximate composition, vitamins and fatty acid profiling for complete nutrition declarations.

Learn More